Unforgotten CasebookThe cases. The books. The screen stories.San Luis Obispo, California · 1996
The story behind Your Own Backyard
Nineteen-year-old college student Kristin Smart disappeared after a party in San Luis Obispo in 1996. Paul Flores, who had walked with her that night, remained central to the investigation for years. He was convicted of her murder in 2022, following renewed scrutiny of evidence and a long campaign by Kristin’s family.
Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.
San Luis Obispo, California. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. No case-specific Odd Stops location was found in this review.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
See the full case checklist →The map shows regional context for this case. No individually sourced historical place is included below.
Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.
This section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
A verified movie listing has not been added yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
IMDb · TV episode
IMDb episode reference connected to the Kristin Smart case. Listed release: 2024. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Credits & title details on IMDbIMDb · TV episode
IMDb episode reference connected to the Kristin Smart case. Listed release: 2025. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Credits & title details on IMDbIMDb · TV episode
IMDb episode reference connected to the Kristin Smart case. Listed release: 2023. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Credits & title details on IMDbIMDb · TV episode
IMDb episode reference connected to the Kristin Smart case. Listed release: 2020. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Credits & title details on IMDbOriginal newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.
Featured newspaper clipping
Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.
The Tribune · 2022-10-20 · Page A4
The family’s attorney reflects on Paul Flores’s conviction and Ruben Flores’s acquittal.
The report distinguishes the separate verdicts.
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
The Tribune · 2022-09-22 · Page A1
Court reporting covers defense motions after prosecutors finished presenting evidence.
Pre-verdict reporting of competing legal arguments.
Read this article on Newspapers.comSearch original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
sanluisobispo.com
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
Read sourceDirect links open the selected episode in Apple Podcasts or on its publisher’s site. Some editions may require a subscription.
Chris Lambert · investigative podcast
The family’s website links to this investigative podcast. Listen for the reporting and follow-up episodes, rather than treating early theories as final findings.
Listen to the episodeyourownbackyard.libsyn.com
Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.
Listen to the episodeDateline NBC
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released April 4, 2023. About 83 minutes.
Listen to the episodeMurder With My Husband
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released December 30, 2024. About 51 minutes.
Listen to the episodeDateline NBC
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released May 14, 2026. About 35 minutes.
Listen to the episode48 Hours
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released November 29, 2020. About 42 minutes.
Listen to the episodeCrime House 24/7
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released May 8, 2026. About 25 minutes.
Listen to the episodeTrue Crime with Kendall Rae
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released July 13, 2023. About 67 minutes.
Listen to the episode48 Hours
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released October 30, 2022. About 43 minutes.
Listen to the episodeThe Casual Criminalist
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released January 26, 2024. About 89 minutes.
Listen to the episodeYour Own Backyard
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released September 30, 2019. About 81 minutes.
Listen to the episodeYour Own Backyard
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released October 7, 2019. About 56 minutes.
Listen to the episodeYour Own Backyard
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released October 14, 2019. About 57 minutes.
Listen to the episodeCrime Scene
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released June 25, 2026. About 45 minutes.
Listen to the episodeCrime & Cookie Juice
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released May 7, 2025. About 52 minutes.
Listen to the episodeGoing West: True Crime
Podcast coverage of the Kristin Smart case. Released May 15, 2026. About 67 minutes.
Listen to the episodeOutside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.
And Then They Were Gone · Blog / essay
An outside blog or essay discussing Kristin Smart. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
Read the blog or essayMedium · True Crime With Elli Mac · Blog / essay
An outside blog or essay discussing Kristin Smart. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription. Publisher access could not be checked directly; this article is indexed in search.
Read the blog or essayIndividual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.
Internet Archive · TV News Archive
The archive indexes this broadcast under Kristin Smart. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Explore the archived broadcastInternet Archive · TV News Archive
The archive indexes this broadcast under Kristin Smart. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Explore the archived broadcastInternet Archive · TV News Archive
The archive indexes this broadcast under Kristin Smart. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Explore the archived broadcastThis section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.
The appellate court affirms Paul Ruben Flores’s conviction for Kristin Smart’s murder. This is the actual unpublished opinion, preserved by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney.
No sourced nickname has been added for this case.
New material will appear here after editorial review.The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.
A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.
Enacted law · California · 1998
Cal Poly identifies Kristin Smart’s disappearance as the impetus for the named campus-safety law. California Education Code section 67381 addresses agreements between campus and local law enforcement for serious-crime investigations. The campus source also explains the development of its Safer program in the context of several students’ deaths.
Read source
07Social Media
12 itemsCase videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
48 Hours
The Disappearance of Kristin Smart | Full Episode
Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from 48 Hours covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 43:24.
Watch on YouTubeNewsNation
How a podcaster helped police in the cold case killing of Kristin Smart
Video from NewsNation covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 5:55.
Watch on YouTubeCrime Weekly
Crime Weekly News: Kristin Smart's Killer Sentenced
Video from Crime Weekly covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 27:42.
Watch on YouTubeKSBY News
Witness breaks down on stand during Kristin Smart murder trial
Video from KSBY News covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 3:15.
Watch on YouTubeDateline NBC
Kristin Smart: 25 Years Later | Dateline NBC
Video from Dateline NBC covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 6:30.
Watch on YouTubeCOURT TV
Kristin Smart Murder Trial: Day 12
Video from COURT TV covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 10:05.
Watch on YouTubeABC10
What we know so far in the Kristin Smart case
Video from ABC10 covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 3:14.
Watch on YouTubeKSBY News
Juror breaks down during testimony in Kristin Smart murder trial
Video from KSBY News covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 3:03.
Watch on YouTubeKSBY News
Attorney for Kristin Smart’s family reflects on case after killer’s sentencing
Video from KSBY News covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 4:37.
Watch on YouTubeCOURT TV
Murder Charges for 'Prime Suspect' Paul Flores in 1996 Kristin Smart Disappearance | COURT TV
Video from COURT TV covering the Kristin Smart case. Length: 11:17.
Watch on YouTubeReddit · r/UnsolvedMysteries
Discussion: Watch the new Kristin Smart 48 hours case episode
Public community discussion connected to Kristin Smart. Posts and comments are reader perspectives, not independently verified reporting.
Read the discussionTikTok · Creator channel
Crime Scene — TikTok channel
Linked by this creator in the episode notes for “Where is Kristin Smart?.” This creator channel covers multiple cases. The matching case episode is linked below. The platform may ask you to sign in.
Visit the TikTok channel