Kristen Smart Killer Mother's Home Searched Ahead of 30 Years Since Disappearance | Crime Alert 05.08.26

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: “Kristen Smart Killer Mother's Home Searched Ahead of 30 Years Since Disappearance | Crime Alert 05.08.26”

Date: May 8, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” covers two major crime stories with significant developments. First, the show delves into the renewed law enforcement activity at Susan Flores’s home—the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing Kristin Smart in 2022—marking a pivotal moment nearly thirty years after Kristin’s disappearance. The show then transitions to the tragic case in Effingham County, Georgia, where a fatal DUI crash involving an undocumented immigrant has reignited debates about immigration and justice.

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Segment 1: Kristen Smart Case - New Search at Flores Home

(00:39–03:30)

Key Points & Updates

• Developments in the Cold Case

  • Investigators in San Luis Obispo County executed a fresh search warrant at the Arroyo Grande residence of Susan Flores (Paul Flores’s mother), possibly due to new evidence regarding Kristen Smart’s remains. (00:39)
  • The search was authorized by a Superior Court judge as part of the ongoing commitment to recover Kristen’s body and provide closure for her family.

• Media Impact & Ongoing Investigation

  • Chris Lambert, creator of Your Own Backyard podcast (credited with reigniting public and law enforcement interest in the case), underscores the significance of this search after a conviction:

    “It's a surprise. It's been, you know, three years since the trial ended, and so obviously new evidence had to lead them here, and that's a good sign. Last time that Susan's house was searched with ground penetrating radar, I believe was in 2000. So it's been 26 years.”
    —Chris Lambert (01:33)

  • The last known intense investigation of the property was in 2000.

• Background of the Case

  • Kristin Smart disappeared in May 1996 as a 19-year-old Cal Poly student. Paul Flores was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life for her murder. Her body has never been found, leaving the family seeking both justice and closure.
  • District Attorney Dan Dow reaffirmed their commitment, stating all lawful means will be used to find Kristen.
  • Kristen’s family remains deeply affected, with her mother, Denise Smart, commenting on their unresolved grief:

    “I mean, we are beyond grateful that he is in prison, but we would be ecstatic at this point if we were able to lay her to rest, you know, in the presence of our family.”
    —Denise Smart (03:10)

  • The family has offered to waive a $350,000 restitution judgment if Paul Flores reveals Kristin’s whereabouts. Flores, through his attorney, continues to claim ignorance.

Notable Quotes

• Chris Lambert (Your Own Backyard Podcast | 01:33):
  “It's a surprise. It's been, you know, three years since the trial ended, and so obviously new evidence had to lead them here, and that's a good sign.”

• Denise Smart (Kristin’s Mother | 03:10):
  “I mean, we are beyond grateful that he is in prison, but we would be ecstatic at this point if we were able to lay her to rest, you know, in the presence of our family.”

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Segment 2: Effingham County Tragedy - DUI Fatality and Immigration Debate

(05:20–08:09)

Key Points & Updates

• The Crash and Its Aftermath

  • 27-year-old Colombian national, DB Jonathan Janemejoy Jansasoy, allegedly caused a head-on collision that killed 47-year-old Michael Sharp, a father of two, near Savannah, Georgia. (05:20)
  • At the time of the crash, Michael’s wife, Crystal, was on the phone with him and described the traumatic experience:

    “I was on the phone with him when it happened, actually, so I didn't know what was going on at first when it happened. You know, it just sounded like his earpiece was messing up.”
    —Crystal Sharp (06:28)

• Suspect’s Immigration Status & Legal Complications

  • Janemejoy Jansasoy entered the U.S. in 2023 and, according to officials, was released into the country without proper vetting. Following the accident, he tried to flee the hospital, prompting authorities to act on his status as a “flight risk” wanted by ICE.
  • ICE placed a detainer to prevent his release, while prosecutors consider additional charges.
  • Crystal Sharp voices her anguish at losing her husband and her frustration with the legal system:

    “And then when we found out that the gal was drunk and that he was a illegal immigrant and wasn't even supposed to be in this country, it was even harder for us because if he weren't here then it wouldn't have happened.”
    —Crystal Sharp (07:43) “I want him to stay here and I want him to suffer the consequences of what he has done.”
    —Crystal Sharp (08:05)

• Broader Impact

  • The community’s grief and anger are compounded by the ongoing debate on immigration enforcement and public safety, intensified in the wake of Michael Sharp’s death.

Notable Quotes

• Crystal Sharp (Victim’s Wife | 06:28):
  “I was on the phone with him when it happened, actually, so I didn't know what was going on at first when it happened. You know, it just sounded like his earpiece was messing up.”

• Crystal Sharp (07:43):
  “And then when we found out that the gal was drunk and that he was a illegal immigrant and wasn't even supposed to be in this country, it was even harder for us because if he weren't here then it wouldn't have happened.”

• Crystal Sharp (08:05):
  “I want him to stay here and I want him to suffer the consequences of what he has done.”

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Important Timestamps

• 00:39 – Episode begins with coverage of the Kristen Smart case and new search at Susan Flores’s home.
• 01:33 – Chris Lambert provides insight and historical context.
• 03:10 – Denise Smart shares the family’s hope for closure.
• 05:20 – New segment: Effingham County DUI tragedy.
• 06:28 – Crystal Sharp recalls the moment of the crash.
• 07:43 – Crystal Sharp expresses frustration about immigration enforcement.
• 08:05 – Crystal shares her views on justice for her husband’s death.

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Tone & Style

True to the podcast’s trademark style, the coverage is urgent, direct, and unapologetically emotional—amplifying the voices of both victims’ families and key investigative figures. Nancy Grace and correspondents foreground the human impact while pressing for accountability and justice.

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Summary

This episode underscores the enduring pain for families affected by crime and the relentless pursuit of answers—from the Smart family’s quest to bring Kristen home, even after Paul Flores’s conviction, to the Sharps’ demand for justice after a preventable tragedy. The episode captures both renewed hope and ongoing grief, highlighting the importance of law enforcement diligence, community support, and the ongoing struggle for closure.

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Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

Crime alert hourly update Breaking crime news now.

[Sydney Silvani]

I'm Sydney Silvani. We're following what is hopefully a major development in a cold case that has gripped the central coast of California for nearly three decades. Investigators in San Luis Obispo county have returned to a familiar location in the ongoing search for the remains of Kristen Smart. On Wednesday, sheriff's deputies executed a fresh search warrant at a home on East Branch street in Arroyo Grande. This isn't just any property. Public records confirm it's the residence of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, the man convicted just two years ago of murdering Kristin. News of the raid was first broken by the youe Own Backyard podcast, the investigative series. Many credit with reviving interest in the case. The podcast's creator, Chris Lambert, noted that this kind of activity after a conviction suggests. Suggests that investigators have stumbled upon significant new information.

[Chris Lambert]

It's a surprise. It's been, you know, three years since the trial ended, and so obviously new evidence had to lead them here, and that's a good sign. Last time that Susan's house was searched with ground penetrating radar, I believe was in 2000. So it's been 26 years.

[Sydney Silvani]

As Lambert mentioned, it's been decades since this property saw this level of scrutiny. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office took to Facebook to confirm the activity, stating that a Superior Court judge signed off on the warrant. They were clear about the mission. The department remains firmly committed to bringing Kristen home to her family. Kristen smart was just 19 years old, a student at Cal Poly, when she vanished in May of 1996. It took 26 years to get a conviction. In October 2022, Paul Flores was sentenced to 25 years to life after prosecutors proved he killed Kristen during an attempted rape in his dorm room. But even with Paul behind bars, the mystery of Kristen's whereabouts remains. Her body has never been found. District Attorney Dan Dow released a statement following the search, saying that while those with knowledge of the body's location could provide answers at any time. His office will continue to use every lawful tool available to find her. The stakes are incredibly high for the Smart family. A judge recently ordered Paul Flores to pay over $350,000 in restitution to the family, but they've made a stunning offer. They will waive that payment entire if Flores simply tells them where Kristin is. So far, his attorney claims he doesn't know. For Kristin's family, Flores's conviction was only half the battle.

[Denise Smart]

I mean, we are beyond grateful that he is in prison, but we would be ecstatic at this point if we were able to lay here to rest, you know, in the presence of our family.

[Sydney Silvani]

Denise Smart remains hopeful her daughter will be found. More crime and justice news after this.

[Podcast Host]

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[Sydney Silvani]

County, Georgia, just northeast of Savannah, a community is mourning the loss of a father of two following a horrific collision that has reignited a fierce national debate over immigration enforcement and public safety. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed this week that 27 year old DB Jonathan Janemejoy Jansasoy, a Colombian national, is now facing a litany of charges, including vehicular homicide, DUI and driving a valid license. According to dhs, Jan Sasoy is an illegal alien who entered the United States in 2023. Officials state he was released into the interior of the country under the current administration, allegedly without being properly vetted. The tragedy unfolded just after 5pm on May 1. Investigators say Jansasoy was behind the wheel of a Ford Escape when he crossed the center line, slamming head on into a Chevrolet silverado driven by 47 year old Michael Sharp. In a heartbreaking detail, Michael's wife Crystal was actually on the phone with her husband at the exact moment of impact. She spoke with WTOC 11 about those final confusing seconds.

[Crystal Sharp]

I was on the phone with him when it happened, actually, so I didn't know what was going on at first when it happened. You know, it just sounded like his earpiece was messing up.

[Sydney Silvani]

Michael Sharp was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extracted by emergency crews before being rushed to a nearby hospital. Tragically, he did not survive his but the story doesn't end at the crash site. While at the hospital, Jansasoy reportedly began acting erratically. Authorities say he attempted to leave the facility before he was discharged. The Effingham County Sheriff's Office believes he was trying to flee because he knew he was wanted by ICE for deportation.

[Law Enforcement Official]

He was acting erratic at the hospital due to being an illegal alien and

[Sydney Silvani]

facing deportation because of that flight risk. Jansasoy was immediately arrested and transported to the local jail. ICE has since placed a detainer on him, requesting that local authorities hold him rather than releasing him on bond. For Crystal Sharp, the pain of losing her husband is compounded by the circumstances of the suspect's presence in Georgia. She describes Michael as a caring family man who loved the outdoors and his two young children. Knowing his death might have been avoided if the law had been different is a weight she now carries.

[Crystal Sharp]

And then when we found out that the gal was drunk and that he was a illegal immigrant and wasn't even supposed to be in this country, it was even harder for us because if he weren't here then it wouldn't have happened.

[Sydney Silvani]

Despite the ICE detainer, Crystal has a very specific vision of what justice looks like for her family. She wants him to face the American legal system head on.

[Crystal Sharp]

I want him to stay here and I want him to suffer the consequences of what he has done.

[Sydney Silvani]

Prosecutors say Jansesoy could face additional charges as the investigation continues. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, make sure to tune in Monday on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Silvani.

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