investigation

SLO Co. DA files murder charges in Kristin Smart case, asks other possible victims to come forward

By • Apr 14, 2021
Rachel Showalter

In a press briefing April 14, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced formal first-degree murder charges against Paul Flores in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart.

SLO Sheriff's Office serves new search warrant in ongoing Kristin Smart investigation

By & • Mar 15, 2021
Courtesy of SLO County Sheriff's Department

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a new search warrant in the ongoing Kristin Smart investigation March 15 at the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores, Paul Flores’ father.

Issues & Ideas: SLO substandard housing investigation, new SLO supervisor and a baby lion

By Greta Mart, & & Jim Dantona & Consuela Meux • Dec 16, 2020

In this episode of Issues & Ideas, we learn about a year-long San Luis Obispo Tribune investigation into substandard housing in San Luis Obispo County. We also hear from Dawn Ortiz-Legg, chosen by California's governor to represent SLO County District 3 after the death of Adam Hill. Julie Rodewald talks about the local chapter of the League of Women Voters and how the recent national election broke all records in SLO County. Finally, we meet the newest lion at the Santa Barbara Zoo—a cub named Pauline—and hear how the zoo is dealing with all the operational changes of 2020. 

KCBX Two-Way: SLO Tribune investigates substandard rental housing

By Greta Mart • Dec 14, 2020
Courtesy of Kaytlyn Leslie/SLO Tribune

Lindsey Holden is a staff reporter at the San Luis Obispo Tribune and recently published a series of stories resulting from a months-long investigation into substandard housing in SLO County. 

New blackface incident at Cal Poly sparks state attorney general's office investigation

By Tyler Pratt • May 4, 2018

The California Office of the Attorney General will investigate incidents of racism, discrimination and harassment at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

Update: Investigators determine identity of body found on Cal Poly campus Tuesday

By KCBX Newsroom • Sep 13, 2016

UPDATE: September 14, 2016 at 5:15 p.m.

The Coroner's Unit of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office released Wednesday the identity of the man found dead Tuesday at the base of the radio tower on the Cal Poly campus.

The tower is located at the corner of Highway 1 and Highland Drive in San Luis Obispo.

The man has been identified as 18-year-old Robert Sean Douglas Aversano of San Luis Obispo.

UPDATE: Death penalty possible for suspect in triple murder of Santa Barbara family

By KCBX Newsroom • Mar 24, 2016
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Update: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 4:41 p.m.

The man suspected of killing a Santa Barbara-area family is facing three counts of First Degree Murder with a possibility for the Death Penalty if found guilty.

UPDATE: Arroyo Grande High School teacher under investigation after report of student sexual assault

By KCBX Newsroom • Dec 8, 2015
Arroyo Grande High School

UPDATE: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:53 p.m.

The Arroyo Grande Police Department said Tuesday afternoon that the teacher being investigated for sexual assault is a woman. The student is a boy under the age of 18.

Original story:

An Arroyo Grande High School teacher is under investigation following a report of sexual assault against a student.

Cuesta Fire investigation complete, but case remains open as vehicle search goes nowhere

By KCBX Newsroom • Oct 20, 2015
CAL FIRE SLO

The investigation into what caused the Cuesta Fire this past summer is complete, but the case remains open because San Luis Obispo County CAL FIRE  has not yet found the person responsible for staring it.

Atascadero elementary schools make extra room during San Gabriel closure

By Jordan Bell • Sep 16, 2015
Google Maps

Investigators are still evaluating the scene at an Atascadero elementary school, after threatening letters and a hazardous package were left on campus last week. 

San Gabriel UPDATE: District waits for safety results before school opens

By Jordan Bell • Sep 14, 2015
Google Maps

UPDATE: The Atascadero Unified School District is preparing for students and staff to return to one of their elementary schools. San Gabriel Elementary has been closed for nearly two weeks, after threatening letters and a dangerous liquid were left on campus. 

Felony charge for Cuesta College employee accused of personnel data breach

By Randol White & KCBX News Staff • Jun 18, 2015
Cuesta College

A Cuesta College employee is facing a felony charge related to an information breach of college personnel records.

Investigators say 'no signs of foul play' in death of Los Osos woman

By Randol White • Dec 30, 2014
Nye County Sheriff's Office (NCSO)

Forensic investigators in Nevada say they do not believe foul play was involved in the case of a missing Los Osos woman whose body was found in the Nevada desert earlier this year.

Nye County Sheriff Anthony DeMeo says a pair of autopsies, crime scene details, and cell phone records show no signs of foul play related to the death of Margay Edwards.

The 27-year-old's last known contact with people was on September 14th near a dry lakebed, and she did not appear to be in any danger at the time according to witnesses.

UPDATE: Body of Carpinteria Man found in local Salt Marsh identififed

By KCBX Newsroom • Oct 7, 2014

UPDATE: October 8, 2014 at 2:05 p.m.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released the identity of the Carpinteria resident whose body was found in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh on Saturday morning.

The decedent is 63-year-old Michael George Ornelas. 

"Following a criminal and a coroner’s investigation, the Sheriff’s Office has determined that Ornelas died from an apparent suicide," Spokesperson Kelly Hoover said in a message to the media.

Original Story:

Arroyo Grande City Manager details why he's leaving City Hall in wake of summer scandal

By Randol White • Oct 3, 2014
City of Arroyo Grande Facebook Page

Arroyo Grande City Manager Steve Adams announced Thursday that he's stepping down from his position in the wake of an ongoing investigation into an incident this past summer at City Hall.

Adams and a female employee were found after hours by police at the facility sparking controversy within the community.