Paul was charged with the murder of Kristin Smart while Ruben was charged with being an accessory after the fact. Peterson was a 24-year-old student at Cal Poly at the time of Smarts disappearance. 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. Paul Flores was the key witness in the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Thanks for sharing this. But in this case the Flores family likely looked the truth directly in the face about their family member (unfortunately, the truth being Kristin's deceased body in this case). I wondered this too. He is the father of Paul Flores, the only suspect in the disappearance of Smart. ", "The podcast was one part of the whole formula," Lambert told the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was committed to having the disappearance of Smart reexamined by investigators. Law enforcement served search warrants Wednesday in the missing person case of Kristin Smart. Cal Poly PD, led by incompetent detective Mike Kennedy, refused to investigate her disappearance initially, suggesting that she probably just left town despite her having no car nor leaving any other signs she left town. Last week, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced they have two vehicles related to the investigation in evidence. I needed [the sheriff's office] to do their job. I love my family but I would never defend or stick by them after a crime like this. Very interesting read. Paul's sister reportedly lives in that area. Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, spoke to California outlet KSBY News on Tuesday, marking her first-ever press interview. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. https://www.thedailybeast.com/four-women-say-the-man-suspected-of-murdering-a-college-student-sexually-assaulted-them. Unblurred are Paul Flores (top center) and Ermelinda Flores (top right). Authorities arrested Ruben Flores after San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his Arroyo Grande home. 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. Those dogs led officers to Flores mattress but no hard evidence was found. They state the detective was requesting an interview from Thomas while also giving her two letters: one urging her cooperation and another offering immunity from San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow in exchange for her cooperation. Wednesday morning, KSBY crews witnessed sheriff's deputies and FBI investigators at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of the only person-of-interest in the case, Paul Flores. At that time, the car belonged to Paul Flores' sister Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. Kristin Smart was dropped in the dumpster and she is in the landfill. 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. In Feb. 2020, sheriffs deputies served warrants at four locations, including at Paul Floress San Pedro home and the Arroyo Grande home of his mother. Nothing ever mentioned to any of them. The parents stopped renewing the tags in 2010 and parked the Volkswagen in Rubin Flores' garage. The Smart family sued Flores in 1996 in an attempt to get some answers in civil court about their daughter, but Flores took the fifth amendment. Press J to jump to the feed. Critics called. Two of those locations are in San Luis Obispo County, one location is in Los Angeles County and one location is in Washington State, the press release stated. Flores removed most of his personal belongings from his dorm room before it was ever searched by the police. There is no doubt in my mind., Those sentiments were echoed by Denise Smart who told Fox40 in May 2018, Paul Flores is without question the perpetrator to this crime. Flores and Smart had spoken at the party she had attended, witnesses said. Do you have a point you would like to make? As for motive, Flores had and continues to have multiple allegations that he has raped or sexually harassed women, and also teens while he was in high school. Paul Flores escorted Smart back to her dorm after an off-campus party. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. When I say I know Pauls involved, his own words saying so are one of the things I know that prove it. 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? 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.. Susan Flores, an Arroyo Grande resident whose son Paul is the prime suspect in Smart's disappearance, broke her silence after new searches in the haunting case last week. If convicted, Paul, who has remained in custody since his arrested, faces a sentence of 25 years-to-life in prison. No one ever saw Smart again. 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. Pretty sad how Cal Polys upper admin interfered with the PDs work and made this investigation go away. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. Would you do the right thing? The pair appeared in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. Could answers be coming in Kristin Smarts disappearance? During a camping trip in Fresno, California, in the early 1990s, Floress female cousins playfully swiped and hid his wallet while walking en route to a liquor store to purchase slush puppies. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. "We have no responsibility for her disappearance and what happened to that young woman, and I've said it in a court of law," she insisted to the station. The documents include information about a January 2020 appearance from a San Luis Obispo County sheriffs detective at Thomas Washington home. I hope they all do. Officers booked Flores into the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. She was last seen alive with Paul Flores, a classmate who offered to walk an inebriated Smart to her room. Support local news. Paul Flores, 44, of San Pedro, was charged with murder, while his 80-year-old father faces a felony charge of being an accessory to a crime. If one of my brothers was a piece of shit like Paul I wouldnt stay silent and complicit.. Paul Flores was the last person with Kristin Smart. I always wonder if she was forced into it. In Southern California, investigators served a search warrant at Paul Flores' San Pedro home. My family loves me but they readily admit they'd help send my ass to jail if I had done anything having to do with goddam murder (people on Reddit have argued with me that helping conceal a murder is what a loving parent does during the Petito/Laundry case - if that's how you feel, I am begging you nicely not to reproduce). "Even with what I found, I can't go arrest somebody. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Flores was one of the last people to see Smart and has been identified as a person-of-interest in the case. "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. I've been waiting for a long, long time to come to some sort of resolution.". Read the story: recordnet.com/article/20200118/NEWS/200119835, Multiple tips received following podcast on Kristin Smart disappearance, Former FBI agent weighs in on potential new developments in Kristin Smart case, Kristin was an adventurous fun loving young woman whose childhood was rich and filled with memorable moments.Unfortunately, it was cut short on May 25, 1996 when another Cal Poly student took her life and has continued to hide behind the 5th Amendment since the summer of 1996. Publicly available information confirms that Ermelinda left the state (and even the country at one point) to get away from this case. They Stole her life .. God Help Us & The family .. The Charley Project goes on to say that Flores would regularly drink heavily and that he was not popular among the student body. Hopefully she has learned that she does not have to repeat or be complicit in it. For his part, the podcaster, Chris Lambert, said he "was one piece of the formula. If Dan Dow prosecutes the case then the Flores have nothing to worry about. True. The report said, citing police records, that Flores had a black eye on the day after Smarts disappearance. Authorities allege that Flores instead took Smart to his own dorm room and killed. 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. Paul Flores has long been the lone suspect in Smarts disappearance. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. Many include court filings and other evidence submitted by both sides as part of various motions. One can only image the horrors she grew up with. Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart alive in 1996, police say. Amanda Starrantino investigates where her missing person's case stands today. Authorities served another search warrant at Paul Flores home in April 2020. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Authorities in California are crediting a true-crime podcast for helping them solve the Kristin Smart case. 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. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. He was soon released from custody. 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. EXAMINING CALIFORNIA'S KRISTIN SMART TRIAL: THE . So far Ive asked two attorneys and one probation officer. After Smarts disappearance, the car was transferred into their parents names. His father, Ruben, is facing a charge of accessory to murder. Paul Flores has long been the lone suspect in Smarts disappearance. Chris travels down to the South Bay, and attempts to trace Paul Flores' predatory behavior from its origins to the present day. The first alleged incident occurred in 1994 when a woman accused Flores, then a high school sophomore is accused of drugging a raping a fellow student. I imagine Ruben has threatened to kill anyone - including Paul - who knows and doesnt stick to the story theyve been telling. Kristin Smart . Can anyone provide some insight as to how and why the entire Flores family has conspired to protect Paul and hide Kristins remains? Paul Flores was convicted of first degree murder on 10/18/2022. Kristin Smart murderer Paul Flores seeking a new trial, San Luis Obispo debates allowing bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. The two trucks, which sheriff's officials say belonged to family members of Paul Flores in 1996, have been a hot topic in episodes of the "Your Own Backyard" podcast, which chronicles the disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart in 1996 and the investigation that followed. I have zero sympathy for her or anyone else in her scumbag family. But nope. Please, let the guilty be found, and her memory finally be at peace. Not to be a cynic but the Republican DA faces a BLM challenge from an increasing Berkeley-esque electorate. Apparently one witness may be an Australian exchange student who returned home after finals and was unaware of the case. His parents have been covering for him his whole life. I know Pauls Attorney Mel had many plea agreement talks with the District Attorneys Office and know without a doubt that Paul Flores knows what happened to Kristin Smart and where her body is. I highly suspect that Paul and Ruben are both serial rapists/offenders. Getty I was thinking about that car the other day. Do a little research before sharing your sage advice. Paul was not an experienced hardened criminal, if they investigated early and subjected him to a proper interrogation, they likely could have broken him and gotten him to confess, assisted by any circumstantial evidence they could have gathered. I feel for her. That's why he's the way he is. More than 3,000 pages of documents have been released as part of the case. 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. Actually his violent behavior started earlier than high school. A neighbor on White Court in Arroyo Grande told KSBY News the home of Ruben Flores, Paul's dad, was also searched Wednesday morning, and the King County Sheriff's Office confirmed that it assisted the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office in the service of a search warrant at a home near Kenmore, Washington. FBI investigators were seen putting up tape around the home on East Branch St. "Something is happening and I am definitely excited to see what comes from it," said Matthew Harrington, who witnessed the search. The Daily Beast report says that Flores is accused of having an accomplice in the crime. This educated many current residents. 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. Maybe Paul called Ruben that night from the pay phone. In October 2022, Paul Flores, the man long suspected in her disappearance, was found guilty of murder. How do you stay friends with someone like that?!!!!! Arroyo Grande High School graduate Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart on the night she disappeared. If you do not want to take this offer now it will not be offered to you again and things will be used against you., He goes on to say in the letter that is not dated but referenced by Galambos that Paul will soon be in a position of needing to tell law enforcement his story and that the case will be solved soon., You can be the one who is responsible for ending this nightmare for everyone and move on with your life. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was committed to having the disappearance of Smart reexamined by investigators. We would have had this moments years ago if Cal Poly PD hadnt screwed this up. Flores was home at the time and could be seen in news . I believe that they had just met the evening of her death so why is there a belief that he killed her? But I believe Ruben trained him to prey on women. "As a result, we are precluded by law from disclosing any further details about them.". Then RF immediately called Ermalinda to possibly go get PF, while Ruben was en route. Thomas did not testify during the preliminary hearing nor has she been called yet as a witness during fer father and brothers murder trial currently underway in Salinas. You just have to wait a while for things to get done the District Attorney's Office, the Sheriff's Office and who's going to do which part. Since the focus is on Paul Flores what is the alleged motive for him to have committed this crime. He had a black eye the next day. Nor could Ruben Flores' attorney, Harold Mesick. And if her body is here and local, I or anyone could potentially find it with a shovel and sleuthing skills.". They state the detective was requesting an interview from Thomas while also giving her two letters: one urging her cooperation and another offering immunity from San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow in exchange for her cooperation. has been maintained for over twenty years. Flores, now 44, was arrested simultaneously along with his 80-year-old father Tuesday. Support local news. I may have missed it so some assistance will be appreciated. Same for the rest of his family. Alexandra Wallace June 11, 2022. Alexandra Wallace July 6, 2021. Susan Flores reportedly told a co-worker (who is interviewed in Your Own Backyard) that Ruben was violently abusive. 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.. She is in the disappearance of Smart you can find out more and our! State ( and Even the country paul flores sister ermelinda one point ) to get away this! 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