Parkinson pledges to reopen Smart investigation

June 15, 2011

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson renewed his pledge Tuesday night to reopen the investigation into missing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. [KSBY]

Parkinson made the comments at a public forum in Cambria, one in a series of recent town hall meetings the new sheriff has been holding across the county. The sheriff spoke in response to concerns raised by local residents who want an outside expert brought in to help solve the mystery of the Cal Poly student who vanished in May 1996.

Cinda Sebring of San Luis Obispo drove all the way to Cambria to speak to Sheriff Parkinson on behalf of the Smart family.

“When the clock strikes midnight, it will mark the 5,500th day that Kristin has been missing,” said Sebring. “The Smarts are very relieved and grateful that you have made this commitment.”

Parkinson has asked investigators to re-examine every piece of physical evidence associated with the case, a process he hopes will start by the end of this month.

A retired FBI agent, currently working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, has offered his services free of charge to investigators. Parkinson has thus far rejected the offer, claiming the organization has more expertise with searches than actual investigations.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child and it’s clear that it’s going to take the village to bring Kristin home,” Sebring said.