Despite Flores’ final denied appeal, ‘it isn’t over’ for Kristin Smart’s family

Denise Smart can rest easier knowing the man who killed her daughter can never appeal his conviction again, but it is far from the end of the road for her family.

On Jan. 14, the California Supreme Court denied Paul Flores’ second and final appeal to overturn or reduce his conviction of the 1996 murder of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart — cementing his conviction.

“We’re obviously pleased that this decision was made, but not surprised,” Denise Smart told The Tribune.

Flores, 49, was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison — the highest penalty for his crimes — in March 2023.

He was also required to register as a sex offender for life, as he assaulted and killed Smart with the “purpose of sexual gratification and sexual compulsion,” Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer O’Keefe said during the sentencing.

“I think for me, because I wasn’t getting Kristin back, the biggest sense of gratitude I had was that he was off the street, and he wasn’t doing this to more women,” Denise Smart said.

During Flores’ three-month trial, two women testified Flores had raped them — a sticking point in both of Flores’ appeals, as he believed they shouldn’t have been allowed to testify.

“To know what they experienced, and then know he’s behind bars, that is definitely a sense of relief,” Denise Smart said.

SLO County Detective Clint Cole, who led the investigation, said he felt “very confident that Paul Flores is where he needs to be ... so that he doesn’t hurt any other women.”

The day his appeal was denied, District Attorney Dan Dow said in a news release that the California Supreme Court’s decision brought “a stronger sense of finality for all involved,” noting that “we will always remember Kristin Smart and will continue to do all we can to honor the memory of her vibrant life.”

But for Denise and the Smart family who have faced the unimaginable, “it isn’t over” until Kristin is brought home, she said.

“There’s no finality for us,” she said.

Local law enforcement want to ‘bring Kristin home’

Both the DA’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office are committed to the same goal as the Smarts — to bring Kristin’s body home to rest, for good.

“The goal is to bring Kristin home,” Deputy DA Eric Dobroth told The Tribune.

Now that the appeals process is no longer hanging over their heads, Denise Smart hopes a plan will be presented as to how the agencies plan to do so.

Cole said the Sheriff’s Office is actively working new information received since the conviction that he believes will help bring Kristin home, noting that is “still a very top priority of myself and the Sheriff’s Office.”

“Although we are very, very excited about the court’s ruling ... this case is definitely not over,” Cole said. “It’s not finished. It will not be finished until we bring Kristin home, and we won’t stop until we do.”

This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 5:00 AM.