What do fibers found in soil samples reveal about Kristin Smart case? Here’s what expert said
Fibers found in soil samples taken during the investigation into Kristin Smart’s 1996 disappearance included red, black and blue fibers — some of the same colors as clothes the Cal Poly student was last seen wearing, a forensic scientist testified Thursday in Monterey County Superior Court.
Faye Springer, a scientist who specializes in analyzing trace evidence, took the stand during the Smart murder trial.
Springer is a criminalist with about 50 years of experience. While working for Sacramento County, she received samples of fibers to test on behalf of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
The fibers Springer was asked to analyze were red, black, and blue. There were also light-colored fibers, which she said could be white, transparent or color-faded fibers.
Smart was seen wearing red shoes, black vinyl shorts and a gray top the night she went missing and was allegedly killed by Paul Flores in May 1996.
The samples came from soil, but it was not immediately clear Thursday where exactly the samples came from.
Several soil samples were taken from the Arroyo Grande property of Paul Flores’ father, Ruben Flores — including under the deck, where the prosecution alleges the Flores men hid Smart’s body for a period of time.
Why did SLO County Sheriff send fibers?
Springer testified Thursday that a hairbrush came with the soil samples she was asked to analyze.
Her task was originally to look for evidence of hair to compare to that found on the hairbrush. She did not find evidence of hair, so there was no comparison done, Springer testified.
The red fibers Spring analyzed appeared to be synthetic, she said, adding there were black fibers that appeared to be both “cotton type” and synthetic.
There were also several blue synthetic and cotton type fibers, Springer said, and the light-colored fibers were not determined to be of a specific fiber type.
While Springer could have tested to see what exactly the type of fibers were, she said, she was not asked to do so — and she didn’t.
Springer said she could tell the difference between cotton-type and synthetic fibers easily due to her years of experience.
On cross examination, Paul Flores’ defense attorney, Robert Sanger, asked if bright pink nylon construction string could have been one of the fibers.
Edward Chadwell, the contractor who built Ruben Flores’ home, previously testified that he wasn’t sure what nylon construction string he used for the Flores deck, but that his go-to favorites were neon pink and blue because they were easy to see.
Springer said the pink string couldn’t have been one of the fibers because it is “pink and not red.”
She also said it is possible for colors of fibers to fade over time depending on how pigmented they are and the elements they are exposed to.
She said she was unsure if the light-colored fibers were faded or originally light colored.
Sanger showed Springer photos from the excavations at the Flores home, and asked if there were things in the photos that could have contaminated the scene.
Springer said the clothing people wearing wearing,such as blue jeans, and fibers from the dryer vent could have contaminated the soil.
But, she added, she couldn’t say whether the samples she was given were contaminated because she wasn’t sure where and when exactly the samples were taken.
Springer also testified she personally could not place any significance on the fibers she analyzed.
This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 2:08 PM with the headline "What do fibers found in soil samples reveal about Kristin Smart case? Here’s what expert said."
