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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:04:18 GMT
Apr-14 SMART MOVE This is the billboard that is scheduled to be erected today on Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo, the latest effort by the Stan and Denise Smart to recover the remains of their daughter. The sign will stay up through May to coincide with the 13th anniversary of Kristin Smart's disappearance. The Stockton girl has not been seen since the end of her freshman year of college at Cal Poly. She attended an off-campus party on a Friday night and never was seen again. Her family has lived with the unknown of her whereabouts ever since. The Smarts have a pretty good idea of what it believes happened, and who is responsible, but law enforcement has been unable to even make an arrest in the case. The Smarts believe the trail begins and ends with Paul Flores, a student at the time, who walked Kristin home from the party. He was the last person known to have seen the beautiful co-ed alive, but he and his parents have stonewalled the investigation from the beginning. "We would prefer not to continue calling it a disappearance, as that implies that no one knows what happened to her or where she is. We all know that is not the case," her mom, Denise Smart, said in an e-mail. "However, to keep information consistent for the public, we are including that wording on the billboard." The billboard is off the Madonna exit on the northbound side of the HIghway 101 facing the southbound lanes. It will be lit at night. "We are hopeful that between the billboard and the Internet, that THE PERSON in the know will feel that now is the time to end our nightmare," Denise Smart said. The family has worked for years to keep the case alive with law enforcement agencies, determined to recover the body of their beloved daughter and sister so they can have a proper burial. While often frustrated by the lack of movement by officals, the family has been sustained by efforts of many in the San Luis Obispo community, including an Arroyo Grande attorney who keeps a billboard announcing a reward in Kristin's recovery, and in front of his office, and group who paid for a monument to her at Dinosaur Park in Pismo Beach.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:04:53 GMT
THE SAN LUIS OBISPO ~ CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC CONNECTION *PIC* Posted By: Patriotlad <Send E-Mail> Date: Sunday, 14-Nov-2004 15:49:11 In Response To: SATANIC CULTS SHIELDED IN THE PETERSON CONVICTION *PIC* (Patriotlad) MAINSTREAM MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE GIVEN SOME ATTENTION TO THE OTHER YOUNG WOMEN WHO'VE GONE MISSING IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THE QUESTION TO BE ASKED -- WHICH THEY DON'T ASK -- IS, 'WHAT'S GOING ON AT CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY @ SAN LUIS OBISPO' ?? Item number one: While Scott Peterson was being investigated, the disappearance of Kristin Denise "Roxy" Smart, was the subject of some coverage in the California media. Both Scott and Laci Rocha attended this campus, which is where they met. Peterson had at least a nodding acquaintance with Ms. Smart, according to some sources. The former speech communications major at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo was last seen about 2:00 a.m. on May 25th, 1996. According to the police, she was walking back to her dorm room in the company of fellow student. He was questioned about her disappearance but has never been charged with any crime. Item number two: Another strikingly beautiful blonde student, Ms. Rachel Newhouse, was also a California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo student. She disappeared on or about November 12th, 1998, when she was the age of 20. Reports indicate that Ms. Newhouse was last seen leaving Tortilla Flats restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo, and her remains were eventually found buried in a remote canyon near Avila Beach. This location is near the rented home of convicted sex offender Rex Krebs. Newhouse has been linked to the Laci Peterson case because of the connection to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. For additional information about Ms. Newhouse, use this URL for the web site: www.hallontheweb.com/rachel/ So far as we know, no one has yet been charged in her disappearance and death. Below, an image of the lanky nineteen year old Cal Poly student, standing 6'1", Ms. Kristin Denise "Roxy" Smart. This young lady has now been missing since May 24th of 1996.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:05:34 GMT
Kristin Denise Smart If you have any information regarding this case please contact: San Luis Obispo Sheriff 805-781-4500 Name: Kristin Denise Smart Classification: Endangered Missing Adult Missing: 5/25/96 From: San Luis Obispo, California Sex/Race: Female/White DOB: 2/20/77 Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark Blonde Height: 6' 1" Weight: 145 Lbs. Identifying Marks: n/a AKA: Roxy Last Seen Wearing: n/a Circumstances: Vanished while walking back to her residence hall on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo. She was last known to have been with a nineteen year old male acquaintance. missing persons gallery
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:07:03 GMT
May 25, 1996 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California KRISTIN DENISE SMART Photo Taken March 1995 DESCRIPTION Date of Birth: February 20, 1977 Hair: Dark Blond Sex: Female Eyes: Brown Height: 6'1" Race: White Weight: 145 pounds THE DETAILS Kristin Denise Smart was last seen at approximately 2:00 a.m., May 25, 1996, as she was walking back to her dorm room on the California Polytechnic campus, San Luis Obispo, California from an off-campus party. Kristin was accompanied by a fellow student who stated that he left her a block from her Muir Hall dorm to go to his dorm. Kristin did not return to her room and has not contacted family or friends since that time. She did not have any identification, money, or extra clothing when she disappeared. If you have seen Ms. Smart, or have any information as to her present whereabouts, contact the Los Angeles Field Office of the FBI at (805) 934-2444. You may also contact the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department at (805) 781-4550. REMARKS Smart was last seen wearing a grey half T-shirt, black surfing shorts, and red "Puma" athletic shoes. Her hair is straight and shoulder length. REWARD A reward of $75,000 is being offered for information that helps locate Kristin. Anyone who has seen Kristin Denise Smart or has any information as to her present whereabouts is strongly urged to contact their local FBI office. Individuals with information concerning this case should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the nearest FBI Office or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:07:49 GMT
[ Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 ] Missing students plague U.S. colleges By Cate Sabatine Collegian Staff Writer As the search for missing Penn State student Cindy Song continues, the communities of universities across the country also are conducting searches to locate other missing students. Numerous cases of missing men and women are reported each year, and the National Crime Center reports 98,697 people are missing in the United States. Of this number, 55 percent are women, and 3,492 of these women are between the ages of 22 and 29. Although the disappearance of Song is the first experience that Penn State has had with a missing student, countless families and friends have been faced with the loss of someone who seems to have simply vanished from campus and hasn't been heard from since. "I think that every time we had a report the person has shown up or they had just gone out of town without telling anyone," said Penn State spokesman Gary Cramer concerning missing students at the university. But Song, who was last seen in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, has not been heard from since her disappearance. Other college students across the country also have vanished, as police continue to search for clues. Jill Behran Indiana University student Jill Behrman was last seen going on a bike workout outside of campus on May 31, 2000. She was scheduled to work at the university's sports center and was to meet her father for lunch at 3 p.m. but never showed up at either location. According to the Bloomington Police Department, on Friday, June 5, Jill's bicycle was found undamaged, near a cornfield 10 miles away from where she was last seen riding. Since the discovery of her bicycle, there have been more than 1,300 leads, however, Behrman has yet to be found. "There is a big hole in our hearts and in our lives right now," said her brother Eric Behrman in a note of thanks to all of those who have helped in the search for his sister. The FBI in Bloomington, Ind., has some very promising leads. "If there is a silver lining, one positive thing is that we have had great cooperation from all the agencies in the area," FBI agent Gary Dunn said. "We have been very blessed. Jill's case has been featured on such shows as Unsolved Mysteries, America's Most Wanted and Good Morning America. The case has aged, but we are not going to give up and we will never give up," Dunn said. "Our goal from day one was to bring Jill home to her family, and we will do that." Kristen Modaferri Kristen Modaferri, a North Carolina State University student, had plans to spend her summer in San Francisco and take classes at the University of California at Berkeley. According to her family's Web site, she was working at a coffee shop in downtown San Francisco until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. On June 23, 1997, the day before her classes were to begin, she left work and was never seen again. Kristin Smart Kristin Smart, a student at California Polytechnic State University, was last seen on May 25, 1996. According to an article reprinted from The Record in Stockton, Calif., the last person to see her was student Paul Flores, who walked her from a party to an area near her dormitory. It has been more than five years since her disappearance, and there have been no new leads in the case. "The reality is there are never any guarantees," her mother, Denise Smart, said in the article. "But as a family, just knowing that everything possible that can be done is being done, it not only restores your faith in law enforcement, I mean, it's a reason to hope." In most of these cases, area police, state police, and the FBI have become involved. In the event that a student is reported missing, there are several steps that are initially taken to investigate such a report. Tony Camechis, head of operations at the Ohio University Police Department said that there is a checklist of things that are done when a student is first reported missing. "It depends on the circumstances," Camechis said. "We do things such as check residence halls, check class schedules to see if they have showed up for class, and we call family and friends." Although the number of missing women reported is higher than that of men, there have been several reports of male students who have vanished from college campuses as well. Keith Noble Keith Noble, a student at Ohio University, was reported missing in April 1998. There was a tremendous search throughout the town that involved the community and the university. According to a press release about his disappearance, Noble was last seen around 1:10 a.m. at a party near campus. The search for Noble included search dogs, horses, bicycles, a boat and a helicopter. Dwight Woodward, former director of Ohio University News Services and now director of International Relations at the university, said there were massive searches of the town including pictures put up by students, as well as front page news articles and television stations covering the search. Keith Noble was never found, and Woodward said he was almost certain that the police never determined exactly what happened. Justin Hayduk A similar case was the disappearance of University of Pittsburgh student Justin Hayduk, who according to an article in The Pitt News, was last seen on March 10 in Morgantown, W.Va. The article reported on that day Hayduk and a friend had been drinking and were stopped by a West Virginia Police Officer. Hayduk ran from the scene, and the only lead that police had was that his hat was found near the Monogahela River. After a search of the river and no new leads, Hayduk's father, Michael Hayduk, began a search of his own. "(His father) was almost overly optimistic," said Eric Lidji, senior staff writer for The Pitt News. "He put out ads in the area, in 7 Elevens and consulted psychics." In this case, Hayduk's body was found in late May, in the Monogahela River. However, the story behind his death has not been uncovered. Chris Gerspacher More recently, the disappearance of Ohio State University student Chris Gerspacher also has become a mystery. An article in The Lantern, the student newspaper for the university, reported that Gerspacher was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 22. His apartment door had been left unlocked, and the television and lights had been left on. His car was parked out front, and his ID, keys and a few hundred dollars were inside of his apartment, said his father, Bob Gerspacher. "His parents and their church come to campus every Sunday to put up pictures," said Megan E. Walsh, of The Lantern. "The family still has hope, but only one person has contacted the police, and there have been no leads." Gerspacher's parents contacted the police when their son never showed up for the Christmas holiday. "Chris loves the holidays. He has never missed this day with his family," his mother, Holly Gerspacher, told The Lantern. Walsh also reported that no evidence has been found, and the police have ruled out suicide. The search for Song, the missing Penn State student, also continues. The 21-year-old integrative arts major was last seen near her West Clinton Avenue apartment. She is 5'1" tall and weighs about 115 lbs. Song, of Korean descent, has long black hair and was last seen wearing a short white skirt, pink top, knee-high brown boots and red-hooded coat. The Ferguson Township Police Department asks anyone with information to call Copyright © 2003 Collegian Inc.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:08:26 GMT
Saturday March 22, 2003 Flores family granted restraining order against local man By Andrew Parker summer mustang staff writer An amateur sleuth has been court-ordered to stay away from a local family. San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Donald Umhofer granted a restraining order on July 26, requiring local resident Dennis Mahon to stay at least 50 yards away from the family of Ruben and Susan Flores. Mahon runs a web site, www.sonofsusan.com, dedicated to his search for the body of missing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. He believes Paul Flores, the son of Ruben and Susan Flores, is responsible for her disappearance. In her declaration seeking the restraining order, Susan Flores stated that Mahon had conducted his investigation with “increasing aggressiveness and hostility,” accusing him of harassing the Flores family, stalking them and trespassing at their home. The granted restraining order will be in place for three years, but Mahon has the right to appeal the order within 60 days of its filing. In a statement on his Web site, Mahon said he would obey Umhofer’s ruling. “The judge made his decision and I am bound to abide by it,” he said. Kristin Smart disappeared May 25, 1996. According to several accounts, she was last seen walking home from a party with Paul Flores. “Paul Flores has been the prime suspect in this case, but he chose to not cooperate with investigators,” Mahon said last week. “He chose the dark path. I believe he knows what happened to Kristin that night.” His Web site includes theories about Smart’s disappearance and tracks the whereabouts of Paul Flores and other members of his family. Mahon has encouraged others to seek information from the Flores family. He posted a Web page where visitors can pledge reward money for credible information regarding Smart’s disappearance, as well as a petition asking local and state authorities to give him a job working alongside Susan Flores at Arroyo Grande Community School. Mahon said his intent is not to harass the Flores family but to honor Smart’s memory. “My job is to come out here and keep a fresh coat of paint on this story,” Mahon said. Flores family attorney Jeffry Radding declined to comment on the restraining order. The Flores family is also declining media requests, Radding said. Denise Smart, Kristin’s mother, said the ruling was a mixed blessing. “Obviously, we were disappointed,” she said. “But on the other hand, having Kristin in the news and remembered is important.” She said she fully supports Mahon’s crusade, despite Umhofer’s ruling. “He’s just an incredible human being,” she said. “Because of Dennis, we really have hope. If it weren’t for Dennis, would you even know who Kristin was?” Mahon said his quest is self-funded; he works a regular job in addition to maintaining his Web site and investigation. He said if the case remains unsolved, one day he’ll have to abandon his search. “That won’t be easy, but I’ll know (that time) when it comes,” Mahon said. “Once you’re around families with missing kids, you become emotionally attached. The look in Mrs. Smart’s eyes justifies (the effort).” ©2001 Mustang Daily. All rights reserved.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:11:00 GMT
Kristin Denise Smart Above Images: Smart, circa 1996 Bar Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance # Missing Since: May 25, 1996 from San Luis Obispo, California # Classification: Endangered Missing # Date Of Birth: February 20, 1977 # Age: 19 years old # Height and Weight: 6'1, 145 pounds # Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Dark blonde hair, brown eyes. Smart's nicknames are Roxy and Scritter. She had a tan at the time of her May 1996 disappearance. # Clothing/Jewelry Description: A light gray cropped t-shirt, black nylon surfing or running shorts, and red and white Puma athletic shoes. Bar Details of Disappearance Smart was a student at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California in 1996. She majored in architecture. She departed from an off-campus party and headed for her dormitory at approximately 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. on May 25, 1996. At the party, Smart was acting as if she was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. When she left the gathering, she was having trouble walking. Smart was accompanied by a female acquaintance and another student from the university, Paul Flores, when she left the party. Photos of Flores are posted below this case summary. He was a food science major at Cal Poly in 1996. Smart apparently met Flores at the party earlier in the evening. Her friend separated from Smart and Flores at the intersection of Perimeter Road and Grand Avenue on the college campus. Flores allegedly told Smart's friend that he would see Smart to her home. She was last seen walking north on Grand Avenue with Flores. She was headed towards Muir Hall, which was her dormitory. Smart has never been heard from again. She was not carrying any identification, cash or personal belongings at the time she vanished. Flores was reportedly seen with a black eye later in the day on May 25. When questioned about Smart's whereabouts by authorities, Flores claimed that he continued walking to his own dormitory and last saw Smart on Grand Avenue shortly after her other friend departed. Flores told several different stories to law enforcement regarding how he received his injury. At one time he claimed he had hurt his eye playing basketball with a friend, but the friend told authorities Flores had had the bruise when he arrived at the game. When confronted with the lie, Flores changed his story and told police he had hurt his eye while working on a truck at his father's home. He allegedly told another friend that he did not know how he got the black eye and that he "just woke up with it." Smart's roommate contacted police later in the morning of May 25, worried because Smart had not returned to her dormitory. The roommate had been at the room the night Smart was last seen, and never saw her get back home. Her clothing, toiletries, cosmetics, medicine and identification were left undisturbed in her room; there is no evidence that she made it back there. Authorities refused to take the missing persons report for four days, however, because Smart disappeared on Memorial Day weekend and college students often take impromptu vacations at that time. Smart's parents have criticized authorities for not investigating the case sooner, saying they probably lost valuable evidence because of it. Police admit that the delay hampered the investigation. Flores dropped out of Cal Poly shortly after Smart disappeared. He had been making very poor grades and was in danger of failing out of the university, and he had also gotten arrested for driving while intoxicated and lost his driver's license. He removed his belongings from his dormitory room at Santa Lucia Hall prior to a search of the premises by law enforcement. Cadaver dogs utilized by authorities led them to Flores's mattress in his former room during the investigation, but no additional evidence was located at the time. Investigators have repeatedly questioned him regarding Smart's case since 1996, but he has invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer. They offered him a plea deal where he would plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and reveal the location of Smart's body in exchange for a six-year prison term, but he refused the offer. Flores is the prime and only suspect in Smart's disappearance, but authorities do not have enough evidence at their disposal to charge him in the case. The Smart family has persisted in their efforts to get investigators to come up with evidence against Flores. A friend of the Smarts, Dennis Mahon, has published a website which gives Flores's address and tracks him whenever he changes residences. The Flores family has a restraining order against him and he was jailed at least once for violating it. In 2005, Flores's mother and her boyfriend sued Smart's parents and Mahon, alleging harassment, severe emotional distress and lost income as a result of their behavior. Smart's case is open and unsolved. Her family held a memorial service for her in May 2001, and again in June 2003. She was declared dead in May 2002. Smart's family attempted to pursue a civil suit against Flores for Smart's wrongful death, but dropped the case in 1996 after Flores pleaded his Fifth Amendment rights during the proceedings. Smart's family has since revived the suit, which has yet to go to trial. They continue to place pressure on Flores to speak to authorities regarding any possible knowledge he may have about their daughter's disappearance. He has no record of violent crimes, but has been charged with drunk driving three times since Smart disappeared, in addition to the charge from before she vanished. People who knew him while he was a student at Cal Poly stated he drank heavily in 1996 and had a tendency to become obnoxious when intoxicated, and that he was not popular with the other students. In 2003, suggestions were made that Scott Peterson might be linked to Smart. Scott Peterson's wife, Laci, disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002, and her torso was found in the Pacific Ocean in May 2003. Scott was later convicted of murdering her. Both Laci and Scott Peterson attended Cal Poly; they were seniors at the school when Smart disappeared. Police investigated possible ties between Scott Peterson and Smart and announced that there was nothing to link him to Smart's disappearance. Smart is described as friendly and generous and a competitive swimmer. She has traveled to many places, including Hawaii and South America. She originally enrolled at the University of California at Santa Barbara, but transferred to Cal Poly early in her freshman year. Her case remains unsolved. Foul play is suspected due to the circumstances involved. Flores 1996 Flores 2006 Left: Flores in 1996; Right: Flores, circa 2006 Bar Investigating Agency If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department 805-781-4500 OR Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) Los Angeles Office 805-934-2444 Bar Source Information San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department The National Center for Missing Adults Find Kristin Smart America's Most Wanted Federal Bureau Of Investigation MSNBC The Modesto Bee The Providing Angel California Attorney General's Office San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department The San Luis Obispo Tribune The Santa Maria Times The Los Angeles Times Bar Updated 5 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 2, 2006; two pictures added, details of disappearance updated. Charley Project Home
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:12:18 GMT
North American Missing Persons Network Kristin Denise Smart Above Images: Smart, circa 1996 Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance # Missing Since: May 25, 1996 from San Luis Obispo, California # Classification: Endangered Missing # Date Of Birth: February 20, 1977 # Age: 19 # Height: 6'1" # Weight: 145-160 lbs. # Hair Color: Dark Blonde # Eye Color: Brown # Race: White # Gender: Female # Distinguishing Characteristics: Had a tan at the time of disappearance. Dental x-rays are available. # Clothing: Grey half T-shirt, black surfing shorts, and red "Puma" athletic shoes. # AKA: "Roxy"; "Scritter". # NCIC Number: M-932737590 # Case Number: 960610965 Details of Disappearance On May 25, 1996, Kristin Denise Smart was a freshman student at California Polytechnic State University near San Luis Obispo, California, and was 19 years of age. She was last seen just before 2:00 a.m. walking to her dorm room with Paul Flores, a 20 year old male student who reportedly had just met Kristin at an off-campus party a few blocks away. Both had reportedly been drinking alcohol. Flores has said that he separated from Kristin near his dorm room, and reported that she walked the short distance to her dorm room alone. Kristin did not return to her room and has not contacted family or friends since that time. She did not have identification, money or extra clothing when she disappeared. Flores was reportedly seen with a black eye later in the day on May 25. When questioned about Smart's whereabouts by authorities, Flores claimed that he continued walking to his own dormitory and last saw Smart on Grand Avenue shortly after her other friend departed. Flores told several different stories to law enforcement regarding how he received his injury. Flores has since refused to speak with or cooperate with the Sheriff's Department regarding the disappearance of Kristin Smart. Flores is the prime suspect in Smart's disappearance, but authorities do not have enough evidence to charge him in the case. Foul play is suspected due to the circumstances involved. Investigating Agency If you have any information concerning this case, please contact: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department Detective Dave Kenny (805) 781-4500 OR Federal Bureau Of Investigation Los Angeles Office (805) 934-2444 Source Information California Department of Justice National Center for Missing Adults Federal Bureau of Investigation San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department Find Kristin Smart The Modesto Bee
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:12:57 GMT
A Stockton family remembers their missing daughter It's been five years since Kristin Smart vanished from the campus at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The Memorial Day weekend marks a sad anniversary for a Stockton family. It's been five years since Kristin Smart vanished from the campus at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. There is still no trace of her and no one has been arrested in the case. Kristin's parents Denise and Stan Smart remain dedicated to keeping her disappearance in the public eye and recently held a special church service on the central coast to celebrate her life. Denise Smart / Kristin's Mother: "It really felt important to each of us to stop and reflect on Kristin. The focus has been on the suspect. The focus has been on the case, not on Kristin. This day was for Kristin." Denise Smart says Kristin loved the ocean and she will be remembered on the coast forever at a place called Dinosaur Cave near Pismo Beach. A special site of remembrance will soon be dedicated in her memory there. CBS Network
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:13:36 GMT
Taken From www.kristinsmart.com/February 6th, 2010 Sadly...there are no updates to speak of. I just spoke with Kristin's mom and the case is basically exactly where it has been for a few years now. There a a few forces at work: 1. Criminal: The SLO Sheriff's Department wants to solve this case and have publicly said many times over the years that Paul Flores is the prime (and only) suspect. They want to find Kristin and hold Flores criminally responsible. 2. Civil: Jim Murphy and Mark Connely are going after Flores civilly but they need the Sheriff's records to strengthen their case and that is where the friction occurs. The Sheriff's department do not want to do so because they say it will jeopardize their criminal case. 3. Judges: They are the problem. For years now they are content to just to leave things where they stand. Their favorite word is delay, delay delay. They once delayed the case for either 3 or 6 months (I forget which) and when the date arrived it was delayed again. The reason: The Judge was on vacation. I have often wondered if the judges ever delay - or postpone, the cashing of their paychecks. Now, I agree that there are times when delays and postponements are necessary. But this has been going on so long now that it is a joke. Except there is nothing funny about what happened to Kristin. What needs to happen now is a complete new agency needs to come in and take over this case. How to make that happen I have no idea.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:14:26 GMT
The search for Kristin Smart never ends for her family By MARSHA DORGAN, Register Staff Writer | Posted: Monday, May 29, 2006 12:00 am | For the past 10 years, the Smart family has died a little each day. It was on Memorial Day weekend 1996 that their 19-year-old daughter Kristin Smart disappeared. For the past decade the family has been waiting for that moment when they can bring her body back for a proper burial. Kristin, a freshman at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, was last seen in the early morning hours of May 25, 1996, after she left an off-campus party. Investigators believe Paul Flores, 19, also a student at the university, was the last person to see Kristin alive. She met him at the party, and the two walked together back to their dorm rooms, which were in separate buildings. Flores has always maintained he left Kristin around 2 a.m., when they reached his dorm room. He said she continued to walk the short distance to her room alone. Detectives still consider Flores as a possible suspect. For Kristin's parents, Denise and Stan Smart, and her siblings, Matt, 27, and Lindsey, 24, the ordeal has been almost more than they can bear. Stan was principal of Vintage High School at the time their daughter went missing. In 2000, he assumed the duties of Napa Valley Unified School District director of student services. He retires on June 30. "A little part of our lives dies each day. People lose someone they love each day, but it shouldn't be your children," Denise Smart said. "There is a hole in our heart that never goes away. It's not easy to move on when you don't know where your child is." The Smarts have long since given up hope their daughter will be found alive. "But to think of her somewhere in an unmarked, unknown grave … no greater pain for a parent," Denise said. Stan Smart is frustrated the case has not been resolved. "We don't have any idea where she is," he said. Stan spent the first three summers after his daughter's disappearance combing the area around the college looking for Kristin's body. "It's very hilly, steep, wooded terrain. And we don't have any idea where to search. If we just had some direction, we could get a large number of people to search, but where do you look? It is unusual that a hiker hasn't come across her body," Smart said. "We still go down to San Luis Obispo and continue to search. We have to. But it just eats you alive." Like the police, the Smarts believe Flores knows details about what happened to Kristin. But he's not talking. Other than making a few initial statements to police when Kristin disappeared, over the past 10 years, Flores has refused to talk to investigators. He has never denied any involvement in Kristin's disappearance. "I know he killed our daughter. Kristin had been drinking that night. I think he took her to his dorm room and tried to rape her. She may have fought back, and he hit her in the head or choked her," Stan said. "He was alone in his dorm room that night. His roommate was in San Francisco. I believe he wrapped Kristin's body in a blanket and took her out the window — his room was on the ground floor," he said. "I think he put her body in a nearby Dumpster, and she ended up in the landfill." Smart said sheriff's investigators checked the landfill, but found nothing. "Now the landfill has been closed because it has been declared a hazmat. They have covered the entire fill with a layer of dirt," he said. On one of their trips to San Luis Obispo after their daughter's disappearance, Denise confronted Flores at the gas station where he worked. "I introduced myself to him. I said, 'Paul, it's a terrible accident. We need your help to find Kristin. Please tell us what you know,'" Denise said. "He went inside and locked himself in a closet. He knows where she is and that it's a place where she doesn't want to be, and certainly a place we don't want her to be." Flores is represented by an attorney hired after the Smart's filed a wrongful death suit against him. "We are not suing for money, but for information. He knows where she is, and he needs to tell us," Stan said. The next hearing is set for early June. Twice, Flores' attorneys have presented plea bargains to the Smarts. "In return for information about Kristin, Paul wanted to be assured he would not get any jail time. But the deals fell through," Denise said. "I know he did it, and he needs to be punished." From the very beginning, the Smarts have been unhappy with the way law enforcement has handled the investigation. "She disappeared early Saturday morning, and the campus police didn't notify us until Monday night. They said she could have just taken off," Denise said. By the time campus police got around to searching Flores' dorm room, he had left for the summer and taken all of his belongings. "We wanted other law enforcement called in right away. I wanted the FBI involved because I believe Kristin was kidnapped," she said. "But all we ever got was that the case was in good hands with the campus police." About a month after Kristin's disappearance, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's investigators were called in. They searched Flores' dorm room with cadaver dogs. The dogs picked up the scent of corpse on the edge of Flores' mattress and the telephone on the adjacent nightstand. In 1999, Gov. Pete Wilson signed what is commonly called the Kristin Smart Law, requiring universities and colleges to notify local law enforcement immediately if a violent crime may have occurred. The current provost for the university, Robert Detweiler was not at Cal Poly when Kristin disappeared. He came in 1998. "I am familiar about the Smarts' concern. I have checked with people who were here when it happened. The university believes campus police acted professionally and appropriately. We have cooperated with law enforcement from the beginning, Detweiler said. "As tragic as this is, the case has impacted the university to become more concerned in educating students, especially freshmen, about safety and sexual assault. It made us more attentive to the issue of alcohol abuse." The Smarts are also frustrated that the sheriff's department is not working closer with them. "They do not communicate with us about the case. We're not getting any information. They are accusing us of leaking information to the media. They have told us a task force made up of an officials from the FBI, the sheriff's and district attorney's office has been assigned to investigate Kristin's case. They are to work on it until the case is resolved," Denise said. "However, we do not have contact with them. I would just think law enforcement would keep us better informed." During the past 10 years, one of the bright spots in the Smart's life as been Dennis Mahon. Mahon, who is from Charlotte, NC, came to California to search for Kristen Modafferi. The 19-year-old, who is also from Charlotte and a North Carolina State University student, was last seen on June 23, 1997, leaving a San Francisco coffee shop. After Mahon arrived in San Francisco, he became interested in the Kristin Smart case and started putting information about her on his sonofsusan.com Web site. Mahon used to park outside the Flores' home in Arroyo Grande and also took photos of Paul Flores during his court appearances. "His Web site has kept Kristen's case alive. We are very thankful," Denise said. However, Mahon's involvement in the Kristin Smart case is the main reason law enforcement has been stingy in releasing information to the family, San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Undersheriff Steve Bolts said. "They have been very involved and very appreciated of Dennis Mahon, his Web site and the information he puts on it. We have asked Dennis and the Smarts to remove the information because it's inaccurate. We will not participate in providing information to them that ends up being incorrect," Bolts said. "Every time we give them information they think they are doing the right thing by putting it on the Internet. If it was accurate information, we would not have this problem. But Dennis puts his own spin on it. "We cannot maintain the credibility of the investigation if we can't validate the information on the Web site. So we don't share information with the Smarts," Bolts said. "If they would agree not to share information, we would meet with them on a daily basis if they wanted. But they have declined." In addition to the loss of her daughter, Denise struggles with the image that she believes the media has painted of Kristin the night she disappeared. "There were all kinds of stories portraying Kristin to be the drunk girl who didn't make it home from the party. I'm no Polyanna. I know college kids drink. But I don't want people to get the wrong message about my daughter. She was the girl who walked home with the wrong person. The message is we need to look out for one another," Denise said. "I know the police report said she was drunk. But wasn't as if she was passed out, lying over a beer keg. I just don't want her to be victimized again. Kristin is the one who knows what happened that night. And she is not here to tell us." As another anniversary passes of their daughter's disappearance, Stan, Denise, Matt and Lindsey refuse to give up hope that the case will be resolved and Kristen will be put to rest with dignity. "Someone asked me if I heard that they found Kristin's body would I be happy?" Stan said. "No, I wouldn't be happy. Yes, there would be some closure. But it's never a happy situation when you have to bury your child." Attempts by the Register to contact the Flores' family were unsuccessful. Paul Flores' parents, Susan and Ruben, have divorced and live in Arroyo Grande. Both have unlisted telephone numbers. Paul Flores is living in Lawndale with his ex-brother-in-law. Posted in Local on Monday, May 29, 2006 12:00 am Updated: 3:18 pm.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:15:48 GMT
Julianne Malveaux Commentary NOT THE ONLY MISSING PERSON BY JULIANNE MALVEAUX You couldn’t pay me a bazillion dollars to be Susan Levy. In case you’ve been off on a desert island lacking either newspapers or cable, you don’t know Sharon Levy, mother of the missing Chandra, the intern who disappeared from the District of Columbia days before her graduation. After ten weeks of speculation, it was learned that Ms. Levy was involved with Congressman Gary Condit (D-Ca.). Thousands of police hours have been spent on interviews and searches. Still, Chandra Levy remains missing. No, I wouldn’t want to be Susan Levy unless I was the mother of one of the nation’s other missing persons, one of the ones whose absence has garnered neither the media attention nor the police resources, one of those who hasn’t set tongues ablaze because of her involvement with an elected official. Take the case of Curtis McCoy, who was two-years old when he disappeared in Newark, New Jersey in 1989. His photo is one of the twenty that appears on the FBI’s missing persons website, where Chandra Levy leads the pack. But, the web site also reports that after Curtis disappeared during a shopping trip, “local law enforcement authorities immediately began a search for the boy but called it off after several hours.” In contrast, the Levy investigation has taken place for several weeks. I’m not suggesting that fewer resources be directed at Chandra Levy, but wondering why so few are focused on folks like Curtis McCoy. Of course, the Chandra Levy story, tragic as it is, also has elements of a hot story during a slow summer of news. When you mix politics, illicit sex and possible foul play, you’ve concocted a compelling media cocktail. But the media have missed the opportunity to talk more broadly about the challenges that face the relatives of missing children and adults, to use the Chandra Levy story to educate, not just titillate. Since there are as many as 103,000 missing people in the United States, Chandra Levy’s disappearance is an opportunity to look at the resources available to families whose loved ones go mission. When Kristin Denise Smart went missing from the California Polytechnic University in 1996, her concerned parents spearheaded efforts for two pieces of legislation. At the State level, they pressured then-Governor Pete Wilson to support the Campus Safety Act of 1998. At the National Level, Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) introduced Kristin’s Bill, legislation that made up to a million dollars of federal dollars available to help organizations search for missing adults. President Bill Clinton signed the legislation in December 2000. The Phoenix-based Nation’s Missing Children’s Organization and Center for Missing Adults has a web page (www.nmco.org) that features the photographs and status reports on dozens of missing adults, including those of both Kristin Smart and Chandra Levy. While our attention is focused on the plight of Chandra Levy, it makes sense to broaden the news focus to the plight of all missing adults and to, perhaps, look at resources like those provided by the Center for Missing Adults. But the media seems so caught up in the speculative hysteria of the Levy disappearance that they’ve forgotten that hundreds of others feel the frustration and pain Susan and Levy feel about not knowing what has happened to a loved one. What is it that makes a community galvanize around a missing person or an unsolved crime? Is it money? Connections? Race or gender? The persistence of those left behind, those forced to goad police officers into keeping a case open? Why do some cases rivet our attention, while others merit no more than a mention? Can the light from a very visible case provide enough illumination for a more general issue to be addressed? And, in the middle of all the media speculation, can a few people remember that there are others missing, others who have grieving parents, others whose lives could benefit from our attention? There are riveting stories to be found by scrolling through the FBI missing person’s page, or looking at the dozens of disappearances listed by the Nation’s Missing Children’s Organization and Center for Missing Adults. What happened to Dail Dinwiddie, the South Carolina student who seemingly disappeared into thin air from her Five Points home? What about Tionda and Diamond Bradley, two little black girls who disappeared shortly after the 4th of July in Chicago. Eight-year-old Shy’Kemmia Pate was last seen wearing an Atlanta Braves jersey before she disappeared from her Unadilla, Georgia home. And yes, Chandra Levy is missing. Hers is one story, not the only story of a young woman gone missing. I don’t begrudge this story the attention it has garnered. Still, the spotlight on Chandra Levy’s disappearance ought to extend to a focus on the thousands of missing person stories that scar hearts all over the country.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:16:53 GMT
Missing teen's family continues hunt for answers Kristin Smart, 19, missing since May 25th last seen at 2am walking back to San Luis Obispo campus. Record Staff Writer May 25, 2006 12:00 AM STOCKTON - It was 10 years ago today that Kristin Smart, an athletic, tall and vibrant 19-year-old woman from Stockton vanished from a college campus in San Luis Obispo. Her disappearance touched off a nationwide story, and hundreds traveled to help find her. Even more have posted their own theories on Web sites speculating what happened after she left a drunken party at California Polytechnic State University. Still, no arrests have been made, and she has never been found. A decade after this high-profile case, Smart's family and friends still hope to find her. They've hired psychics, searched fields and even acted as their own detectives, interviewing Smart's friends, acquaintances and people who knew the No. 1 suspect. "It's a tough time every year when May rolls around," said Smart's father, Stan Smart, who wants justice. "It's really important to find our daughter and bring her remains home." Missing Kristin Denise Smart was last seen on campus in the early-morning hours of May, 25, 1996, after staggering away from a house party in the coastal hill town of San Luis Obispo. Paul Flores, then 19, a fellow student whom Smart first met that night, was to walk Smart to her campus dorm at Muir Hall on the way back to his own dorm. By morning, her roommate - worried Smart hadn't come in - reported her missing. Flores showed up later that day with a black eye when he met friends to play basketball. At first giving police conflicting stories, Flores quickly stopped talking and asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. That's been his stance ever since. Flores and his attorney could not be reached for comment this week in Southern California. Investigators make guarded comments about Flores, saying he's at the center of a "very active" case. "He has not been excluded as a suspect. Let's put it that way," said San Luis Obispo County Undersheriff Steve Bolts. Aside from his black eye, cadaver dogs early in the investigation led police to a mattress in Flores' dorm room, but he has adamantly refused to answer questions. He dropped out of college shortly after Smart disappeared and has a drunken-driving record. In December, Flores was arrested in Los Angeles again on suspicion of driving under the influence, and this time he could go to state prison if he's convicted. Asked why Flores hasn't been arrested in connection with Smart's disappearance, Bolts said he couldn't comment. "We believe there is knowledge that somehow Paul Flores has, or may have, that he may be willing to share," Bolts said. Stan Smart, frustrated with the faltering investigation, said Flores' attorneys have twice suggested a deal in which Flores would lead them to the body in exchange for a significantly reduced charge. Both offers fell through. "It makes me further believe that he's the one," Smart said. Persistent pressure Family and friends refuse to let Kristin Smart's memory fade. Over the weekend, about 250 people gathered for the Kristin Smart Hope and Awareness Run near San Luis Obispo, marking a decade of frustration and unanswered questions. The money will help post signs asking the public for information. Matt Smart, Kristin's brother, who lives in Stockton and sells pharmaceuticals, recalled his big sister as a powerful swimmer whose eyes brightened at the thought of travel. Matt Smart, 26, was 16 when his sister vanished. An online video shows the Smarts playing together on a tropical beach in Jamaica and riding a cruise ship through the icy passages of Alaska. Another scene shows Kristin Smart graduating in 1995 from Lincoln High School. She was in her first year at Cal Poly when she vanished. Smart was declared legally dead in 2002, despite the fact that her body has never been recovered. Gov. Pete Wilson in 1998 signed the Kristin Smart Security Act into law, requiring campus police to report cases involving violence or missing students to local police. Smart's family faulted Cal Poly officers for failing to investigate the case early on. Kristin Smart's death brought together a family that was already close, Matt Smart said. Kristin Smart's mother, Denise, teaches English language learners at Lincoln Unified. Her youngest child, Lindsay Smart, is now 23. Stan Smart recalled driving down to Cal Poly to collect his daughters belongings from the Sheriff's Department and bicycle from the campus dorm where she once lived. "You're supposed to bring your child home - not her possessions," Stan Smart said. Fervent supporter Few have thrown themselves into the hunt for Kristin Smart like Dennis Mahon. The Charlotte, N.C., man isn't related to Smart and never knew her. He learned about the missing Stockton girl while searching for another girl from his hometown who vanished on vacation with her family in San Francisco. Mahon, 45, maintains an elaborate Web site dedicated to Smart. He once held a vigil in front of Paul Flores' family home in Arroyo Grande demanding answers until Flores obtained a restraining order. Mahon, a former homeless shelter manager who now works at Wal-Mart, spent 12 days in jail for continuing to harass Flores. He's agreed to take down the Web site when Flores begins to cooperate with law enforcement. "These girls, I'm just not going to abandon them, that's all," he said. There's a good reason cases like Kristin Smart's draws such strong public reaction, said Andrew Edelman, a criminal justice professor for the University of Phoenix in south Florida. "Any event that rattles our sense of safety and security gets society's attention," Edelman said. "I think it shocks." Cases like Smart's are alarming because men are expected to protect women and hold them in high esteem. Parents send their adult children to college campuses believing they're safe. Complacency sets in, Edelman said. It's particularly devastating when there's no closure, he said. What's next? In retirement, Stan Smart said he'll spend time with his family and search for Kristin. He predicts more treks down to San Luis Obispo, like before, when somebody thinks they know where she is. He's done making the talk-show circuit. He's thrashed through the surrounding hills looking for her, too often uncovering the remains of dead animals and never finding his daughter. "I'm not sure if we ever will. You know, they can't do anything more than what they've done to her. She can't be hurt any longer." Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com HOME
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 19:17:31 GMT
Kristin Denise Smart Published: 7/8/2008 Kristin Denise SmartKristin Denise Smart was last seen at approximately 2:00 a.m., May 25, 1996, as she was walking back to her dorm room on the California Polytechnic campus, San Luis Obispo, California from an off-campus party. Kristin was accompanied by a fellow student who stated that he left her a block from her Muir Hall dorm to go to his dorm. Kristin did not return to her room and has not contacted family or friends since that time. She did not have any identification, money, or extra clothing when she disappeared.
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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 20:55:00 GMT
Kristin Smart still missing 15 years later May 22, 2011 Cal Poly officials seek to confront the latest wave of problems arising from alcohol abuse and sexual assaults as Wednesday marks the 15th anniversary of the greatest unsolved mystery on campus: Whatever happened to Kristin Smart? Smart, a native of Stockton, was nearing the end of her freshman year at Poly when she vanished on May 25, 1996 after attending an off-campus party. She was last seen in the company of fellow student Paul Flores who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm, which was relatively empty due to Memorial Day weekend. Family and friends continue to press local law enforcement for answers in unraveling the 15-year-old mystery. Dennis Mahon, a self-appointed private investigator from North Carolina, has made the Smart investigation a personal crusade. Mahon says he has been asking Ian Parkinson, new San Luis Obispo County Sheriff, to devote more resources to the case. Parkinson did meet with Denise Smart, Kristin’s mother, last January, but there has been no further announcement from the Sheriff’s office. “This is so insidious that it makes me wince to even think about it,” says Mahon. “I first met Denise Smart a year-and-a-half after Kristin vanished. I vividly remember sitting on Kristin’s bed with Denise and she was telling me for the first time all about her daughter’s disappearance.” Mahon sent Parkinson a letter, dated March 5, 2011, in which he shared multiple emails claiming information about Paul Flores’ involvement in the case. Mahon goes on to trace the anonymous emails to Sonoma State University and believes that university officials there can identify the sender of the emails, a potentially major break in the case. “The lead came in . . .2,837 days ago,” Mahon wrote to Parkinson. “I know that the cops of ‘Law and Order’ could have the lead checked out in under an hour. But in the real world, I can’t see why it would take a single work week—five days tops—to check this lead out, let alone 2,837 days. “I don’t care how many different ways the Sheriff’s office tries to spin it—there is no way to justify allowing dust to collect on this lead.” Paul Flores was investigated, but never charged. He has since left the area and is believed to now be living in southern California. Anyone with information regarding the case is welcome to call Crimestoppers at 549-STOP.
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