The San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department announced a new development in the case of Kristin Smart, a college student reported missing more than 20 years ago.
Authorities will begin excavating several locations of interest near the spot where the California Polytechnic State University student disappeared without a trace in May 1996.
Smart, a Cal Poly student, was 19 when she was returning to her Muir Hall dorm room following an off-campus party, NBC News reported. At the time, officials said, she was with her fellow student and friend, Paul Flores.
She was never seen alive again.
Authorities announced Tuesday they would begin an excavation project on the part of the campus near the P, where Smart was seen last.
Two dozen FBI agents, along with approximately 15 members of the Sheriff’s Department, will be working on the project.
They developed the lead after a comprehensive review of the entire case. Officials are also focused on other locations, but are not disclosing at this time.
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“We’re not sure where this is going to take us,” San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Dean Parkinson said. The excavation site was previously searched as part of a missing person case. Official digging for remains will start Wednesday morning.
Human remains detection dogs were brought in by the FBI from Virginia to the location in January. With the assistance of the dogs, several areas of interest were identified on the hillside.
In the past 5 years, the Sheriff’s office has worked with the FBI, the California Department of Justice, the Ventura DNA lab and the DOJ DNA lab.
The Cal Poly president has been supportive of the efforts and has allowed them access to wherever they need.
“We did not want to dig during school. This time was picked because of the absence of students on campus,” Parkinson said.
Officials say the Smart family has been kept up to date and supports the efforts.
Despite the progression in the case, authorities say they are no closer to making an arrest than they were last week.
Paul Flores remains a person of interest in the case, Parkinson said. Authorities named him a key witness in July 1996, but he has never officially been charged in connection with her disappearance, NBC News reported.
The night of her disappearance, Flores has reportedly just met Smart at the off-campus party and told authorities they separated near his dorm room. Flores said she walked the short distance to her dorm room alone.
However, Smart did not return to her room and has not contacted family or friends since that time, according to a CrimeStoppers release. At the time, she did not have identification, money or extra clothing.
Smart was declared legally dead in 2002.
Anyone with information about Kristin or Paul Flores should contact Detective Nate Paul of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff`s Department at (805) 781-4518 or the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (805) 934-2444. People may also call CrimeStoppers at (805) 549-7867.
No other information was immediately available.
Check back for updates on this breaking news story.
