A judge on Monday ordered Paul Flores to pay $346,000 in restitution to the family of Kristin Smart, to cover expenses they say they incurred as a result of, and in the wake of, Smart's 1996 disappearance.

Under California law, victims' families can seek financial compensation from convicted killers, regardless of their means or ability to pay, for costs they incurred as a result of the death. In the case of Smart's disappearance 28 years ago, the Smart family says they spent money on travel, billboards, lost wages, a private investigator, medical expenses, legal expenses, and ultimately a celebration-of-life event for their daughter Kristin.

As KPIX reports, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer O'Keefe ordered Flores to begin making restitution payments, and she said the family could submit more expenses if they care to.

The restitution amounts are $74,832.08 for Kristin’s mother, Denise Smart; $144,327.50 for Kristin’s father, Stan Smart; $96,538 for her brother, Matthew Smart; and a combined $31,279.88 for her sister Lindsey Smart-Stewart and brother-in-law Patrick Stewart, per KSBY.

Flores, whose assets are not publicly known, will now have to begin paying 50% of his prison wages to a restitution account, and 50% of any funds put into his prison trust account.

Smart, whose body has still never been found, was believed to have been killed by Flores in his dorm room at Cal Poly in May 1996. The prosecution's theory of the case, which was supported by some soil evidence at trial, is that Smart was buried for over two decades underneath a deck behind the home of Flores's father, Ruben Flores, in Arroyo Grande. As the investigation gained renewed momentum during the pandemic, it appeared the body was likely moved somewhere, though neither Ruben nor Paul Flores has admitted to this.

The Smart family has offered to forego the restitution payment if Paul Flores will tell them where Smart's body can be found. His lawyers claim they do not know where her body is — and likely, pending an attempt at appeal, Flores will never say. The family says the offer remains open.

Speaking to The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, Smart's mother, Denise Smart, says, "It's demeaning to Kristin's memory to measure our loss in finances. Our loss is Kristin."

Flores, 47, was convicted in October 2022, and sentenced to 25 years to life. His conviction came after many years of the case going cold, and was revived in part with the help of podcaster Chris Lambert and his Your Own Backyard podcast, which brought forward multiple new witnesses in the case.

Flores, who appeared gaunt and pale via Zoom during the restitution hearing, will be eligible for parole when he is 60 years old, in 2037, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

In the last year, Flores has been attacked and injured twice while in prison. He is now serving his time at Corcoran State Prison in Kings County, following the two attacks, which both took place at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga.

Previously: Convicted Kristin Smart Killer Paul Flores Stabbed In Prison