Kristin Smart: Soil analysis reveals body may have been buried in Paul Flores’ mother’s backyard
The IndependentThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Murdered student Kristin Smart’s body may have been buried in the backyard of Paul Flores’s mother, according to soil tests done by a group of California engineers. open image in gallery Heat map of soil tests carried out by engineers looking for remains of Kristin Smart “What that shows are very high concentrations of the total VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, associated with human decomposition,” Mr Nelligan said. open image in gallery Prosecutors said that Paul Flores killed Kristin Smart while trying to rape her in his dorm room “I can’t answer specifically about Kristin’s body but I think that the test shows we have a significant number of compounds that have a clear indication that there is some type of decomposition of a body going on in this location,” said engineer Steve Hoyt said. “Until the appeals process in the Smart murder case is finished, they aren’t able to make any comments at this time.” Smart disappeared in May 1996 after attending an off-campus party, and witnesses told investigators that Flores was the last person seen with her.