In May 1996, 19-year-old college freshman Kristin Smart vanished after attending an off-campus party near California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. What initially appeared to be a missing person case would evolve into one of the most notorious unsolved mysteries in California history.

For more than 25 years, Kristin's family searched for answers as investigators pursued countless leads, rumors, and theories. Suspicion repeatedly centered on fellow student Paul Flores, the last known person seen with Kristin the night she disappeared. Yet despite years of public scrutiny, searches, and investigations, no arrests were made for decades.

In this episode of Over My Dead Pod, we examine the timeline of Kristin's disappearance, the investigative missteps that frustrated her family, the role of media and independent journalists in keeping the case alive, and the breakthrough developments that ultimately led to an arrest more than two decades later. We also explore the lasting impact the case had on campus safety, missing persons investigations, and one family's relentless pursuit of justice.

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