CA CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996

[Henry2326]

Adding: Dan Dow (DA) also has to buy off on the investigation and any potential arrest/prosecution. So whatever is happening behind the scenes, may take more time to put the pieces together.

I think there is more happening behind the scenes that they don't want public yet.

 

[Jackielee09]

“Things that make ya go hmmmm”
well if it’s false news, it at least put her back in spotlight.

 

[sun16]

This is all true, MassGuy. Where I'm flummoxed is the wording here:

"This is really going to be something you don't expect. We want to give you the support you need,"


Finding remains isn't unexpected? It comes across as something else, even if that is the result

Perhaps she was alive for a long period of time before dying more recently. Who knows.

 

[*Verdigris]

I was just going to come here to ponder if she was sure it was an FBI agent, and not just a cruel hoax...
Well, at least it doesn't seem necessarily a hoax, but also not official.
Crap.
Well, as @Jackielee09 said, at least it puts her case back into the spotlight.

But I sure hope they really do know something, and that it will come out soon -- and a certain will be behind bars, finally.

(And yes, I meant ; it wasn't a typo of POI!)

I remember this case from day-one. Or at least week-one.
Her poor family.

ETA: LOL.... didn't know they now star that one out now!
But, I'm sure you can figure out what it was!

 

[Seattle1]

I think this story first broke here by this local report. Viewing after-the-fact, I think the wording by the mother that she was contacted by FBI was really a courtesy alert by someone giving her some personal advice on how to prepare herself. It does sound like it could have come from a retired agent known to the mother and familiar with the case. It's just as interesting how the same breaking news story served to promote a podcast produced Sept 2019 by another local [Chris Lambert] that was a child when Kristin went missing. (Citing the success of his podcast, Lambert has since left his job and working fulltime on the series).

Could answers be coming in Kristin Smart's disappearance?

Jan 18, 2020

“It’s probably imminently going to break I would say within a month,” Denise said. “Something’s going to happen.”

[..]

Kristin’s mother, Denise Smart, said she recently has been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and told to be ready for a development that might bring closure to her 23-year nightmare. Denise said she was told by authorities, “Be ready. This is really going to be something you don’t expect. We want to give you the support you need.”

The FBI also suggested she secure a family spokesperson and the family “might want to get away for a while.” What the FBI didn’t say is when this development might be announced.

“It’s like, ‘Can you give me the flight plan?’ ” Denise said. “When is this happening?”

The FBI’s preparation alert certainly has brought renewed optimism. Though answers finally might be coming, not knowing what to be prepared for or when news might break has been agonizing.

[..]

“I wish I knew when,” Denise said softly, “because it’s very anxiety-producing.”

[..]

Chris Lambert, 31, was raised and resides in tiny Orcutt, an unincorporated town in Santa Barbara County about 40 miles south of San Luis Obispo. Lambert was in second grade, still trying to master tying his shoes, when Smart disappeared. He had no connection with the Smarts. But growing up in the Central Coast, he knew her name and face. As an adult, Lambert became interested, to put it mildly, with her case.

[..]

“I know there are many cold cases, but it really hit home, growing up in Orcutt,” he said.

Lambert has produced a documentary podcast, “Your Own Backyard: The Disappearance of Kristin Smart,” employing his talents as a recording engineer and intriguing storyteller. Lambert spent countless hours over many months conducting research and interviews, fine-tuning his presentation before he launched the podcast in September 2019. The podcast is beautifully produced, riveting, haunting, shocking, fascinating.

ETA: Add link -- confirming communication with mom was by former FBI agent. FBI: No agent spoke to Kristin Smart family in missing college student case

 

[rosesfromangels]

This is all true, MassGuy. Where I'm flummoxed is the wording here:

"This is really going to be something you don't expect. We want to give you the support you need,"

Finding remains isn't unexpected? It comes across as something else, even if that is the result

Well we are all just grasping at straws, but I interpret the BBM comment to suggest someone notorious, well known.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Kristin Smart’s family told to prepare for breakthrough in 23-year-old missing persons case

 

[Knox]

Kristin Smart’s family told to prepare for breakthrough in 23-year-old missing persons case

A spokesman for the family confirmed Wednesday that the person who advised Smart’s mother, Denise, was not an active FBI agent.

“To clarify, the Stockton Record news story was based on a conversation between the Smart family and a former FBI agent,” said family spokesman John Segale. “The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and will notify all of us when there is official news to announce.”
FBI: No agent spoke to Kristin Smart family in missing college student case

 

[SuziQ]

I think this story first broke here by this local report. Viewing after-the-fact, I think the wording by the mother that she was contacted by FBI was really a courtesy alert by someone giving her some personal advice on how to prepare herself. It does sound like it could have come from a retired agent known to the mother and familiar with the case. It's just as interesting how the same breaking news story served to promote a podcast produced Sept 2019 by another local [Chris Lambert] that was a child when Kristin went missing. (Citing the success of his podcast, Lambert has since left his job and working fulltime on the series).

I have respectfully snipped your post.

I agree with your thoughts on this. I think Denise was well intentioned, but not honest in the delivery of this info. Maybe it was in hopes of shaking some info loose? Idk?

God bless her. I would not want to be the parent of a missing child.

 

[amayla]

I just don’t know. I’m hoping this wasn’t some way to drum up more hype of the podcasts.

 

[rosesfromangels]

A spokesman for the family confirmed Wednesday that the person who advised Smart’s mother, Denise, was not an active FBI agent.

“To clarify, the Stockton Record news story was based on a conversation between the Smart family and a former FBI agent,” said family spokesman John Segale. “The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and will notify all of us when there is official news to announce.”
FBI: No agent spoke to Kristin Smart family in missing college student case

What type of baloney is going on here?!

 

[sleuther0192837465]

With Mrs. Smart’s comment about this news being “anxiety producing”, I tend to believe that this is not just some random shakedown. But what do I know, I just got “here”MOO

 

[whitelilac]

I still lean to PF having killed Kristin. Wasn't it in about 2016 that four women came forward that he had sexually assaulted them even before Kristin's disappearance? And didn't dogs hit on PF's bed back then, a month or so after? Maybe the guy confessed, maybe the guy has been found to have assaulted or killed others subsequent to Kritin vanishing. DNA evidence finally discovered? Could the "what you not expect" be that this guy is a serial killer or some such? I don't know, just thinking aloud. Her poor family, all these years. imo

 

[Beekarina]

Perhaps she was alive for a long period of time before dying more recently. Who knows.

this is possible too. I would include in finding graphic evidence.

IF she was alive for any length of time after, I 100% do NOT believe she was missing voluntarily. I would almost never say that, but she was too close with her siblings.

 

[JillR]

If you listen to the account of the husband and wife who rented Paul’s mothers house, you will believe that Kristen met her death many years ago.

 

[MesquiteO21]

I was just going to come here to ponder if she was sure it was an FBI agent, and not just a cruel hoax...
Well, at least it doesn't seem necessarily a hoax, but also not official.

yeah, I guess I remain hopeful that the current/active FBI did at least verify it was a former FBI (as opposed to just some random wackadoo). So it lends credence to him having inside knowledge, but he probably meant it as an off the cuff type of comment and probably didn't think it would blow up into a media sensation

 

[fred&edna]

A spokesman for the family confirmed Wednesday that the person who advised Smart’s mother, Denise, was not an active FBI agent.

“To clarify, the Stockton Record news story was based on a conversation between the Smart family and a former FBI agent,” said family spokesman John Segale. “The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and will notify all of us when there is official news to announce.”
FBI: No agent spoke to Kristin Smart family in missing college student case

The is the most important post I've seen in the last few pages! Thank you!

 

[PommyMommy]

Well, this thread blew up, didn't it? Eek! I'm not caught up yet, but this is the original news report about the recent development:

JAN 18, 2020
Could answers be coming in Kristin Smart's disappearance?
[...]

Kristin’s mother, Denise Smart, said she recently has been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and told to be ready for a development that might bring closure to her 23-year nightmare. Denise said she was told by authorities, “Be ready. This is really going to be something you don’t expect. We want to give you the support you need.”

The FBI also suggested she secure a family spokesperson and the family “might want to get away for a while.” What the FBI didn’t say is when this development might be announced.

[...]

Denise Smart said she never has harbored more hope, even more than in 2016, when the FBI and the Sheriff’s excavated a Cal Poly hillside following a tip that proved to be fruitless.

“When they did the big dig, I had no anxiety,” Denise said. “I said she’s not there.”

But now, there is belief the end may be near.

[...]

Kristin Smart has been a missing person longer than she was known to be alive (she was officially declared dead on May 25, 2002). She was bright, intelligent and motivated. In May 1996, the then-freshman reportedly was escorted to her dorm residence by three students after an on-campus party.

[...]

“I believe that Paul Flores is responsible for her death and I believe that he knows where she is currently located,” Lambert said. “There is no doubt in my mind.”

[...]

“As I hope I made it clear in the podcast, there is just such overwhelming circumstantial evidence in this case,” Lambert said. “I don’t think they focused on the wrong suspect and I don’t think they had tunnel vision. I think there were many, many things that pointed to this person.”

Lambert has shared some of his findings with the Sheriff’s Office, and after past interview requests were denied, his next podcast, the seventh in the series, due for release later this month or early next month, will be a sit-down with two San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s detectives.

“It’s probably imminently going to break I would say within a month,” Denise said. “Something’s going to happen.”

[...]

 

[Ozoner]

I still lean to PF having killed Kristin. Wasn't it in about 2016 that four women came forward that he had sexually assaulted them even before Kristin's disappearance? And didn't dogs hit on PF's bed back then, a month or so after? Maybe the guy confessed, maybe the guy has been found to have assaulted or killed others subsequent to Kritin vanishing. DNA evidence finally discovered? Could the "what you not expect" be that this guy is a serial killer or some such? I don't know, just thinking aloud. Her poor family, all these years. imo

I think that Paul Flores has been identified as a serial killer. I think the retired FBI agent had inside information from the SLOC sheriff's department.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Read this entire thread but not every link. She is not likely alive in my opinion. If you’ve ever moved your kid out of a dorm, you know what kind of junk is left behind. Parents use moving trucks, huge bins, lockers, big wardrobe boxes, etc. Lots of unmemorable ways to remove a body. Nobody would have paid any attention to a student borrowing a cart or dolly, and moving a large container to a dumpster, back of a truck or van.
The unexpected elements may be:

1. Info from whoever assisted with the disposal of the remains.
2. Info from her roommate at the time.
3. DNA of the perp on many victims, not just her.