Podcast Summary: "Your Own Backyard"
Episode: "Closer to Closure: A Conversation with the Smart Family"
Host: Chris Lambert
Release Date: October 18, 2023

Introduction

In this deeply emotional episode of Your Own Backyard, host Chris Lambert engages in a heartfelt conversation with the Smart family—Stan, Denise, Matt, and Lindsay—discussing the enduring impact of the 1996 disappearance and subsequent murder of Kristin Smart, a Cal Poly student. Released on October 18, 2023, this episode delves into the family's journey toward justice and the quest for closure after 27 long years.

The Impact of the Trial

The trial of Paul Flores, the man accused of Kristin's murder, was a pivotal moment for the Smart family. Denise Smart reflects on the challenges faced during the trial, particularly the feeling that the criminal justice system prioritizes the rights of the accused over the victims:

Denise Smart [01:02]: "I believe I'm correct on this regarding criminal justice and criminal justice is justice for the criminal and regarding their civil rights that you look out for and not for the deceased person or daughter."

Matt Smart echoes this sentiment, expressing the pain of the defense blaming Kristin for her own disappearance despite evidence of Flores's troubling history:

Matt Smart [02:39]: "Having to listen to the defense team blame your daughter for her death and disappearance was extraordinarily painful."

Family Perspectives

Each family member shares their unique perspective on the trial and its aftermath:

• Lindsay Smart discusses the dehumanizing tactics used by the defense and the emotional toll it took on the family:

  Lindsay Smart [03:20]: "Blatant policy to dehumanize Kristin... That's just a hideous, crappy way to practice law."

• Matt Smart highlights the professionalism of their prosecution team and the jurors, which sustained their hope throughout the trial:

  Matt Smart [04:24]: "Seeing our team so effectively deal with the defense and watching the jurors... really kept hope alive."

The Role of the Podcast

Chris Lambert shares his personal journey attending the preliminary hearings and the trial, emphasizing the emotional weight of revisiting memories and uncovering new details through countless witness accounts:

Chris Lambert [05:05]: "Imagine you lost someone you love and then you go back to like 27 years earlier and find out what they did for, like, the last day of their life through 15 different lenses... it was helpful for closure, but also really hard to hear."

Lindsay Smart praises the podcast's role in rallying support and bringing national attention to Kristin's case:

Lindsay Smart [12:05]: "You have a ragged grassroots campaign revolving around the family and work through social media, public media, and people who have heard of the case through a variety of means."

Memories and Emotions

The conversation delves into personal memories and the enduring grief experienced by the family:

• Lindsay Smart recalls crucial moments that solidified the reality of Kristin's fate, such as finding her personal effects and the legal declaration of her death:

  Lindsay Smart [25:07]: "When the person's only mode of transportation, their bike, is still locked up... people don't disappear. They just don't."

• Matt Smart and Lindsay Smart share touching memories of Kristin, highlighting her warmth, kindness, and unwavering support for her siblings:

  Matt Smart [27:24]: "She was a movie star... she was our biggest fan... she was just really warm and welcoming."

The Verdict and Its Aftermath

A monumental moment for the Smart family came when Paul Flores was found guilty. Both Matt and Chris describe the profound relief and validation they felt:

Matt Smart [32:15]: "When the jury said guilty... I couldn't believe it. After 26 years, Kristin's voice had finally been heard."

Chris Lambert [32:48]: "It was validation and the accountability we always had known was true."

Lindsay adds that while this brought them closer to closure, it doesn't entirely heal the wound of losing Kristin:

Lindsay Smart [33:24]: "It brought us way closer to the closure that we're aiming for."

The Pursuit of Closure

Despite the conviction, the Smart family acknowledges that true closure remains elusive. They discuss the ongoing desire to locate Kristin's remains and the legislative changes needed to prevent such tragedies:

• Lindsay Smart emphasizes the importance of bringing Kristin home to achieve real closure:

  Lindsay Smart [43:17]: "The closure, the closing of the book is not happening anytime soon until Kristin is brought home and laid to rest."

• Matt Smart advocates for sentencing enhancements in California law to ensure harsher penalties for crimes involving murder and concealment:

  Matt Smart [44:50]: "If you murder someone and hide their body, there needs to be an enhancement to that punishment... instead of 25 years to life, it would be 35 years to life."

Advice to Other Families

Drawing from their harrowing experience, the Smart family offers heartfelt advice to others facing similar tragedies:

• Lindsay Smart encourages persistence, community engagement, and sharing one's story to keep the quest for justice alive:

  Lindsay Smart [48:09]: "Never give up, never lose faith and keep on getting on... it's part of the journey, but it's not the ending."

• Matt Smart stresses the importance of amplifying victims' voices in the legal system to ensure their stories are heard and justice is served:

  Matt Smart [42:37]: "Victims deserve that. It's a crime and sexual assaults need to be treated as a crime."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with the Smart family expressing immense gratitude for the support they've received over the years. Denise and the family extend their thanks to Chris Lambert, their legal team, friends, and the broader community for their unwavering support in seeking justice for Kristin. While acknowledging that the journey is far from over, the Smart family remains resilient, holding onto hope for the final steps toward closure and the peaceful resting of their beloved Kristin.

Denise Smart [50:09]: "It's been a community effort... we have a great deal of thanks to all of you who have assisted us in so many different ways."

Matt Smart [52:20]: "I feel honored every time someone mentions Kristen's name, that she is remembered, that she is loved by a larger community than we could ever have anticipated."

This poignant conversation not only highlights the enduring pain of losing a loved one but also underscores the strength and unity of a family determined to seek justice against all odds.