This day in 1996 marks the last time Cal Poly college student Kristin Smart was seen alive. Kristin's story is being shared more than it ever has before, but to the Smart family, it marks another year without closure. This year holds a slightly different meaning as the murder suspect and alleged accomplice have been arrested. The Smart Family and friends of Kristin are gathering in San Luis Obispo Tuesday to honor her by participating in her favorite activities and retracing her final moments. The Smart family says they are continuing to put their faith in the investigation and hope to soon bring forth justice for Kristin.
The Smart family released this statement Tuesday, marking the anniversary:
"It has been 25 years today since our daughter, Kristin, disappeared and to mark the occasion, members of our family traveled to San Luis Obispo this past weekend to celebrate Kristin’s life. As part of our visit, we took time to thank our special friends in the SLO area who have carried Kristin in their hearts including those in law enforcement who never gave up and continue today with steeled determination and effort to bring her home. While we were not able to meet with all the Warriors for Kristin during our short stay, we wanted them to know that their determination over the years has been so valuable in sustaining Kristin’s memory. We did have the opportunity to thank Sheriff Ian Parkinson for his relentless commitment and leadership, and we saluted all those in the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI for their efforts on this case. We will always be so grateful to Kristin’s earliest supporters, Jim and Garin Murphy, Dennis Mahon and Tana Coats, each of whom refused to give up. They, along with hundreds of early supporters, worked tirelessly to fight for justice for Kristin including helping search and providing gifts of their time and donations. Finally, we especially wanted to thank Chris Lambert for his outstanding podcast, Your Own Backyard. His interest and his unique ability to tell this story have been responsible for generating unimagined new attention to Kristin. Thank you to everyone who have helped us with our quest for justice. Your support will be forever remembered and appreciated by our family."