When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "In 2019, we interviewed several witnesses that had not been previously interviewed and some of that information came to light through the podcast that many of you are familiar with," he said. Susan Flores reportedly told a co-worker (who is interviewed in Your Own Backyard) that Ruben was violently abusive. The pair appeared in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. To the extent that he was forced to leave jobs because of the Smart family. Flores has no criminal record involving violent crime. Back in 1996, with classes finished before the long Memorial Day weekend, Smart, a 19-year-old California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo student, called her parents on Friday, May 24, and left a message telling them that she and some friends were heading to a party at 8 p.m. that night. Maybe she's just as awful as the rest of them, or maybe not. "I feel good about the case at this point," Lambert told the Tribune. Smart was last seen returning to the Cal Poly campus, where she was a freshman, after attending a party in San Luis Obispo one night in May 1996. In Southern California, investigators served a search warrant at Paul Flores' San Pedro home. The Modesto Bee reported in January 2003 that Scott Peterson, the man who was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci Peterson, in December 2002, was being eyed for link to the Smart case. Four Women Say the Man Suspected of Murdering a College Student Sexually Assaulted Them JUSTICE DENIED Paul Flores was the last person seen with Kristin Smart before she vanished in 1996. In 2021, he was charged with her murder. Flores was named as a key witness in the case in July 1996. Laci Peterson had also been a student at Cal Poly. His father, Ruben, is facing a charge of accessory to murder. Authorities arrested Ruben Flores after San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his Arroyo Grande home. I may have missed it so some assistance will be appreciated. On April 13, Paul's father, Ruben Flores, 80, was also arrested and charged with being an accessory after the murder for allegedly hiding her body in his yard on White Court in Arroyo Grande. I feel for her. Thanks for the advice Dadbod! More than 3,000 pages of documents have been released as part of the case. Dow . It sounds like a scary environment with Pauls violent outbursts, the parents covering up for him and it sounds like RF was abusive as well, at least towards her mom. Last month, deputies conducted a two-day search for Smarts remains at the home of Ruben Flores. When I say I know Pauls involved, his own words saying so are one of the things I know that prove it. Does Ruben have enough control/power to convince or compel everyone in his immediate orbit to protect his son and open themselves up to prosecution? In exchange, Flores would disclose where Smarts remains are located. We are encouraged by the news of todays search of Ruben Flores property. Smarts family said in a statement they released on Monday. Did you want to make a point or maybe do your own research to back up any insinuations you may have and share with us? Paul Flores was convicted of first degree murder on 10/18/2022. That was a huge judgment error. In order to produce the documentary, Lambert quit his job to devote himself to the podcast. I just Ran into a Nut job Client .. What is wrong with people ,Folks work hard go to church .. How Could anyone Not report this .. EXAMINING CALIFORNIA'S KRISTIN SMART TRIAL: THE . There is new hope for answers in the murder mystery of Stockton native Kristin Smart. His room was finally searched when the sheriff took over the case and at that point Paul had moved off campus and Cal Poly had deep cleaned his room, destroying any available evidence. Ruben Flores, and his sister and mother . Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was committed to having the disappearance of Smart reexamined by investigators. St. James Catholic School Christmas Party, 1982. Is the Five Cities Fire Authority's future in jeopardy? The press release stated the sheriff's office will not be commenting any further and no additional information will be released at this time. Authorities arrested Ruben Flores after San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his Arroyo Grande home. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was committed to having the disappearance of Smart reexamined by investigators. Flores faces a murder charge. But then again, this family doesnt make any sense. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Could it also be the graduation party video where the mom asked him what he did with the missing girl? Deputies towed the car from Rubin Flores home on Monday afternoon. Deputies also dug in several places in search of remains. Her family misses her every minute of everyday!, Kristin Denise Smart: Missing since May 25th, 1996 Part 1, Kristin Denise Smart 40 minute Download into iMovie, FBI Dogs Finds Possible Remains Of Kristin Smart On Cal Poly Campus. Smart ended up attending an off-campus party, where she became intoxicated and passed out on a neighbor's lawn, according to witnesses. Flores removed most of his personal belongings from his dorm room before it was ever searched by the police. Is there indeed some kind of video with PF admitting he knows what happened? ive only been able to find one and now i cant even find that one. Very interesting read. Ms. Thomas informs me that she was never a witness to any crime, nor did she hear the defendants speak about any crimes., Thomas did not testify during the preliminary hearing nor has she been called yet as a witness during her father and brothers murder trial currently underway in Salinas (KSBY). The same day, investigators also served warrants at an undisclosed location in SLO County and at a location in Washington State. He threw [my cousin] to the ground and got on top of her and putting his hands down her top even after he got his wallet. Flores said that the reason for changing his story was because he thought it would sound stupid if he said that he couldnt remember how he got the black-eye. We only want our daughter back. At the time of the article, Flores was living in Southern California. It remains to be seen if any of them have been cooperative but Chris indicated recently that, at least in the past, husband #1 was close to PF (and remained in contact with him after the divorce) and expressed doubt on IG that Ermelinda or Susan would talk. At the time of Smarts disappearance, the vehicle belonged to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. No one ever saw Smart again. Flores was home at the time and could be seen in news footage wearing a light blue hoodie. Hundreds gather in Arroyo Grande for vigil in honor of Kristin Smart, Hundreds of people gathered in the Arroyo Grande Village on Sunday evening: to remember Kristin Smart, a Cal Poly student who went missing in 1996. His parents have been covering for him his whole life. Since the focus is on Paul Flores what is the alleged motive for him to have committed this crime. Paul Flores has long been the lone suspect in Smarts disappearance. The parents stopped renewing the tags in 2010 and parked the Volkswagen in Rubin Flores garage. He needs to swing for the fence to get reelected. Same for the rest of his family. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Girl Madalina Cojocari 'Not Telling Us Everything They Know': Police, How a True Crime Podcast Freed 2 Georgia Men Wrongfully Imprisoned 25 Years on Murder Conviction. The 19-year-old was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm, which was relatively empty over the Memorial Day weekend. All the news reports conveniently ignore Cal Polys obstruction in their timelines. Paul Flores was the last person with Kristin Smart. I could not imagine being his mother. Paul is very soon going to be in a position where he needs to tell us his story, this case will be solved soon. It was just a matter of the way the machinery works. It was only by pure luck that Paul was arrested for a different crime and the arresting agency (not Cal Poly PD) documented him having a black eye a fact that Cal Poly PD apparently never noticed. Flores dropped out of Cal Poly during the summer of 1996. I have zero sympathy for her or anyone else in her scumbag family. Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm on May 25, 1996, which was relatively empty over the Memorial Day weekend. Hope this brings an end to all these years wondering where she was. Powered by. Paul Ruben Flores, 44, of San Pedro was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection to the disappearance of missing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart, according to the San Luis Obispo County. "It's part of the reason I called it 'Your Own Backyard,' because of the frustration at the beginning was, 'Why are not enough people talking about this? For his part, the podcaster, Chris Lambert, said he "was one piece of the formula. My first impression was that she didnt have anything to do with it and that Chris was protecting her privacy. You are right, I asked the question here trolling for an answer. At that time, the car belonged to Paul Flores' sister Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. The Santa Maria Times reports that Flores has three DUI convictions on his record, as of 2007. But nope. Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart alive in 1996, police say. In documents filed June 18, 2021, Thomas' attorney, Guy Galambos, filed a motion of notice in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court to quash a subpoena for Thomas' testimony during the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben's case that July. In January 2020, Smarts mother, Denise Smart, told the Stockton Record that she had been contacted by the FBI regarding her daughters disappearance. The report said, citing police records, that Flores had a black eye on the day after Smarts disappearance. Kristin Smart Disappearance Suspects Taken into Custody, Classmate of Kristin Smart Briefly Detained, Police Search Home Decades After Her Disappearance, Ga. Police Officer Arrested After Naked Body of Missing 16-Year-Old Girl Found in Woods, Ex-Boyfriend of Missing Md. She did not walk away and dig herself a grave. Peterson was a 24-year-old student at Cal Poly at the time of Smarts disappearance. She did not walk away and go kill herself. The documents include information about a January 2020 appearance from a San Luis Obispo County sheriffs detective at Thomas Washington home. Kristin Smart murderer Paul Flores seeking a new trial, San Luis Obispo debates allowing bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. Kristin Smart . Ermelinda Flores (top left) and Paul Flores (bottom), 1983. According to the Charley Project, Flores had been making poor grades and was in danger of being kicked out of school due after he received a DUI. Smart, a native of Stockton, was nearing the end of her freshman year at Cal Poly when she vanished on May 25, 1996, after attending an off-campus party. In later years, the Examiner reports that the Smart family constantly harassed Flores and his family in order to get him to speak about what he knew about Smarts disappearance. Be part of the news. He is the father of Paul Flores, the only suspect in the disappearance of Smart. St. James Catholic School Christmas Party 1983. After Flores allegedly completed the trip with Smart, she was never seen again. Is the Five Cities Fire Authoritys future in jeopardy? Lambert said, The biggest mistake I think the sheriffs department made was that the first sheriff commented within one year of investigating that if (Flores) didnt talk they would never be able to solve this. Then in Feb. 2021, Los Angeles police officers arrested Paul Flores in Rancho Palos Verdes on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Can anyone provide some insight as to how and why the entire Flores family has conspired to protect Paul and hide Kristins remains? I imagine Ruben has threatened to kill anyone - including Paul - who knows and doesnt stick to the story theyve been telling. We know Paul is, there's evidence of such. Why did they keep it? Maybe she had no idea until she was actually in the middle of it. We want to give you the support you need., The creator of the podcast, Your Own Backyard: The Disappearance of Kristin Smart, Chris Lambert told the Stockton Record that he believes Flores is responsible for Smarts death. Paul Flores, Smart's former university classmate, was the last known person to see her alive after volunteering to walk her home in her inebriated state from the party, police have said. Either way, her involvement and the ex husbands involvement have always been mind boggling to me. Here are the latest totals, SLO driver who hit and killed couple charged with manslaughter, Suspect arrested in rural Arroyo Grande fatal shooting, San Luis Obispo County to close homeless parking site, Man flees officers in stolen CSD truck, barricades himself at Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo debates allowing bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. Woman Found Dead in Park Charged with Murder, Cold Cases Heat Up: How Advances in DNA Technology Are Helping to Bring Justice for Victims, Kristin Smart Case: Paul Flores Found Guilty in 1996 Death and Disappearance of the Cal Poly Freshman, Kristin Smart's Body Is Still Missing But Longtime Suspect and His Father Face Trial, Lyft Driver Who Went Missing in Florida Has Been Found Dead, Daughter Says, Dismembered Remains of N.C. Man Who Vanished Over a Month Ago Found in Barrel of Concrete, Friend Testifies That Paul Flores Would Often 'Follow' Kristin Smart and Hang Around Her Dorm, Texas Man Accused of Murdering Girlfriend Who Planned to Confront Him About Being Married, Missing Tenn. I wondered this too. Most knew about it, no thanks to Poly, and now all do thanks to Chris Lambert. Support local news. Denise Smart said that she was told, Be ready. KSBY Investigates: Kristin Smart Disappearance. "But I've felt good about it for a long time. While her body has never been found, Kristin was declared legally dead in 2002. Atascadero city manager announces retirement. The jury heard a portion of a call between Paul Flores and his mother on Jan. 26, 2020, in which the pair appeared to be discussing the show.. Is this Susan posting? Video by: Laura Dickinson READ MORE: sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article237462089.html More from The Tribune: Subscribe: bit.ly/2HrSD3v Twitter: twitter.com/SLOTribune Facebook: facebook.com/SLOTribune/ Website: sanluisobispo.com/ Digital news subscription: bit.ly/2HGn19E, Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School. Shortly after that, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff sniffer dogs were brought on the Cal Poly campus. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Recently released court documents detail a one-time immunity deal previously offered to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Thomas. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. Deputies towed the car from Rubin Flores home. Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm on May 25, 1996, which was relatively empty over. BUT if she suspected anything she should have turned in her son. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. On Tuesday, investigators used ground-penetrating radar under Rubin Flores home and in the backyard, and then dug in several places. Law enforcement served search warrants Wednesday in the missing person case of Kristin Smart. Galambos says the letters referred to several crimes that Thomas may have committed, including being a possible accessory after the fact, or destruction of evidence, or even mishandling human remains., Galambos argument, in part, states that when trying to secure Thomas as a witness, the DAs Office fails to state which defendants actions or statements she witnessed and it fails to identify what actions and statements she witnessed. We appreciate the vigilance and professionalism of Sheriff Ian Parkinson and his department and our family looks forward to learning more in the hours and days ahead.. 19 years later, still no body, no arrests made, and no answers. Wow! The Charley Project goes on to say that Flores would regularly drink heavily and that he was not popular among the student body. CategoriesFeatured, Special ReportsTagsKristin Smart, Paul Flores, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office. Critics called. The documents include information about a January 2020 appearance from a San Luis Obispo County sheriffs detective at Thomas Washington home. The SLO County Sheriffs Office will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the case. At one point, Flores said that he woke up with a black eye. has been maintained for over twenty years. I typically respect family sticking together through thick and thin, but this is just beyond that scope. Paul Flores has long been the lone suspect in Smarts disappearance. I think PF/RB used her car for something regarding Kristin - which is why they never got rid of it and it was just sitting in Ruben's garage. Paul and Ruben were arrested and charged in connection with Kristins death in April 2021. I am deeply immersed in true crime and other macabre topics on a basically daily basis, so it takes a lot to really spook me - the Flores family makes me ill. 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Found, Kristin was declared legally dead in 2002 while her body has been.