Instead, on Monday, May 27, Denise Pearce says the Smarts got a call from Cal Poly's campus police asking if Kristin was with them. Kristen was in her first year at Cal Poly when she vanished in 1996. In a statement, the Smart family described a long wait for this bittersweet day.. He promised the Smarts that solving Kristin's case would be a priority. They had become close friends despite their differences. In March 2021, investigators used cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar to search Ruben Floress property in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Paul Flores was taken into custody at his home in the San Pedro section of Los Angeles on April 13, 2021, and was charged with murder. Chris Lambert: I wish I knew why. Cole reportedly testified that Ruben asked why Susan Flores, who is Pauls mother, and her boyfriend were also being swabbed when he was the only one who committed a felony. There was early mistakes made that you can't recover from when you're missing those vital pieces. I told her I didn't I didn't want to go. Ruben Flores, was arrested at his home on the same day and was charged with being an accessory after the fact. Cole also testified that on March 9, 2020, a witness reported some suspicious activity at the property. Kristin Smart 19, a freshman at California Polytechnic State University had gone to a party on Friday, May 24 , 1996 -- and has not been seen since. PODCAST EPISODE 2: So, with Cheryl's account alone, we have an unsettling picture of Paul . The defense claims the prosecution is wearing said color as a result of a Facebook request on the site Justice for Kristin Smart' to wear purple during a Memorial Day celebration. The county sheriffs office searched his room once more during the weekend of June 29th, when a team of cadaver dogs signaled the smell of human decay. "YOUR OWN BACKYARD" PODCAST: EPISODE 1: It's a cold and cloudy winter afternoon in San Luis Obispo and I'm retracing missing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart's last known steps. I'm going to go back to the dorms. That turned out to be college. She spent a summer in London, was an exchange student in Venezuela, and a lifeguard at a camp in Hawaii. Chris Lambert: And he says he got a black eye playing basketball with his friends. (Pool photo by Dave Minsky/Santa Maria Times). Nineteen-year-old Cal Poly student Kristin Smart went missing after a campus party 25 years ago, and, this summer, her case is finally getting its day in court. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of evidence that could have been gathered, that wasn't. You wouldn't let any of your friends be drunk around him. And he leaves her to walk up this walkway. In one of Paul's police interviews he mentioned that he wanted to be let out of the interview because he needed to help clean up concrete at his mom's house So, what was being done in Susan Flores's backyard in the weeks after Kristin went missing? Two days after her daughter went missing, Denise Smart got a call from Cal Poly's campus police. Hudson previously testified during the preliminary hearing that while hanging out with a group of skateboarders in San Luis Obispo in 1996, she heard Paul Flores use a derogatory term to refer to Kristin Smart and say, "I'm done playing with her and I put her out underneath my ramp in Huasna.". ORIGINAL STORY - Paul and Ruben Flores are back in court Wednesday for another day of their preliminary hearing. An earring that appeared to match the necklace Kristin is wearing on the billboard. On Aug. 2, local media reported that Denise Smart, Ms. Smarts mother, spoke at a preliminary hearing, where the judge was deciding whether prosecutors had established probable cause to proceed to trial. And I was like, "nah, I have to study." Then, in 2011, Ian Parkinson was elected sheriff. Ann-Marie Christian: became friends with Kristin in elementary school. In addition, the documents include a phone tap from January 2020 in which Pauls mother, Susan, tells her son: The other thing I need you to do is to start listening to the podcast. Witness Jennifer Hudson takes the stand, where she tells the court that, in 1996, when she was 17 years old, Flores laughingly told her he had taken care of Smart. Smart appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on Friday night. The search for Ms. Smart, who was nicknamed Roxy, took many forms. Prosecutor Chris Peuvrelle asked him if he found the remains of any monkeys or ferrets or any human bodies on the property. Chris Lambert: As they describe it, Paul Flores just sort of appears out of nowhere. There's no question about it. In the crowd, taking it all in, was that podcaster, Chris Lambert. At the time of the April 13 arrests, the sheriff said he believed that had enough evidence to win convictions. And Murphy and Sinclair believe they can prove it. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. They seized digital devices during the search and, in April 2020, executed another search on Paul Flores property in San Pedro. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. That's when Cole said Ruben asked why they would also be collecting DNA from Susan Flores and her boyfriend and Ruben told him, "They did not commit a felony, only I did.". Chris Lambert: It's mostly frat guys from the Kappa Chi fraternity. He also said that law enforcement leaked information to "Your Own Backyard" podcaster Chris Lambert. And DNA evidence could not be found linking any other evidence to Kristin. Ian Parkinson: I committed to them that I was going to go back to the beginning and re-examine every piece of evidence that we had. Another frustration for the Smarts: at the time Kristin disappeared, investigators weren't aware that Paul Flores's parents were separated and living apart. What Chris did was take a local story and turn it into an international story. They described dropping her off at the party at an unofficial fraternity house, and said that when it was over, she needed support to walk as she was being accompanied home by Paul Flores. James Murphy: To see them in custody was a feeling of great joy for me. That technology uncovered a soil disturbance under the deck as well as four soil samples that tested positive for human blood; an April evacuation also tested positive for blood. The judge rules that the DA cannot be disqualified for wearing purple clothing. We want to hear it. You, youre the one that can tell me, a reference to Lamberts Your Own Backyard, the podcast about Smart and Flores that has brought new attention to the case. Ken Blum is the editor. "48 Hours" looks back to their arrests and how the saga began. She was never seen. On Tuesday, Cole testified that Ruben clarified that he meant he was the only one of the three who had been arrested. And so, she pulled me into this sort of like, "oh come on, let's socialize. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. So, she slowed down and walked with them. They got to the parking lot of an apartment complex. Denise Smart, Kristins mother, has also praised the show. Ann-Marie Christian: She was who she was because of her parents, for sure. Margarita Campos: I mean, she was gone. Chris Lambert: I remember seeing it on the news it was something scary and they were talking about it pretty regularly. James Murphy: Paul Flores had a reputation amongst the girls that knew him at Cal Poly as being a creeper that he was always trying to hit on women. Margarita Campos: But when we got to the house it was pretty dead too, it was really -- it was like a couple of roommates hanging out playing video games And Kristin was, like oh gosh, there has to be something better than this. Lindsey Smart Stewart: She had traveled the world before she even made it to college. Like so many freshmen, Kristin struggled. and offers to help. The arrests of the father and son came after investigators using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs discovered evidence connected directly to Smarts death last month during a search at Ruben Flores home, authorities said. But a massive search did not happen until she'd been gone for more than a month. Meanwhile, the hearing is scheduled to conclude on Friday, when the judge will rule if prosecutors have probable cause to go to trial. She writes about missing persons, unsolved murders, and human rights. Paul Flores is charged with first-degree murder and is accused of killing Smart while attempting to rape her. On April 13, 2021, almost 25 years after Kristin Smart went missing, longtime suspect Paul Flores, 44, was arrested at his home in San Pedro, California, and charged with murder. A hundred percent that was happening. His is the latest in a line of true-crime podcasts to play a role in an arrest, a court appeal or even an exoneration. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, via Associated Press. He wouldn't answer a single thing. James Murphy: Every day. You just don't talk, and you get away with it. UPDATE - San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Detective Clint Cole returned to the witness stand Wednesday in the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores, testifying that searches of Ruben's home turned up evidence leading them to believe human remains had been buried there. They're known for being a really safe school.". And she's like, "please come with me. Any evidence that might have been there was long gone. Testimony is expected to continue Wednesday. Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen rules that having the podcaster testify and release his records would have a chilling effect on the medias ability to do their job. Our family has always known that this was going to be a long, difficult, and emotional journey. They did an interview with the Cal Poly Mustang Daily and explained that they didn't think there was any evidence that a crime had taken place. Paul Flores was charged with murder and Ruben Flores with being an accessory after the fact, accused of helping to bury her remains. Paul Flores isnt granted bail, with Judge Craig B. From the start, investigators. Smart was declared dead in 2002. Chris Lambert: At that point I don't think they had ever dealt with a missing person, a possibly murdered person. Cadaver dogs trained to detect human decomposition were deployed by the F.B.I. He built the home on White Court for Ruben and Susan Flores in 1991. But as Chris Lambert learned, campus police did not act right away. But Mary Lassiter says the earring matched the necklace Kristin is seen wearing on the billboard. September 15, 2017. Recently unsealed court documents show the extent to which law enforcement has looked into Flores over the years: 48 search warrants involving wiretaps and GPS tracking, and a search of Flores former Cal Poly dorm room. He later argued that the biological evidence found under the deck was not conclusively human blood. Witnesses said Smart was intoxicated, and Flores had said he would walk her home after an off-campus party. He says "no.". 7,781 days.. That is all it took. On May 25, 1996, friends dropped her off at an off-campus party. October 22, 2022 / 10:10 PM The unsealed documents include two claims from 2011 and 2017 that Flores raped two women while they were drunk in San Pedro. Remember, Flores's room had been emptied and thoroughly cleaned. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of focus on how Kristin was drinking what sounded a lot like victim shaming. Berkeley. She feared for her life, so did not tell anyone at the time or for years after. But Paul Flores remained behind bars help without bail. They also did not focus on Paul Flores immediately, waiting six days to formally interview him. After apparently becoming intoxicated, Smart headed back to her dorm with fellow partiers Tim Davis and Cheryl Anderson. James Murphy: There's no way to get evidence back once you've lost it. 1 of 47. And might have connected Kristin to Susan Flores's house, says James Murphy. James Murphy: And it says wrongful death and then I put murder. I need you to listen to everything they say so we can punch holes in it. After almost 25 years of suspicion, on April 13, 2021, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson announced the arrest ofPaul Flores in the disappearance of Kristin Smart. And I was, like, "uh OK, fine.". PODCAST EPISODE 1: Kristin broke down begging her mother to let her drop out and go somewhere else. So, I said, "you better turn some lights on right now and let me out or I'm going to scream." He has denied any involvement. Four months after that futile search, Paul Flores was brought before a grand jury. So before leaving, Margarita handed over her keys to get back into Muir Hall. A lot of women felt uncomfortable around him, Flemming says. Defense Attorney Sanger calls the move a stunning lack of objectivity.. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Soon after her disappearance, a sheriffs search party combed remote parts of the Cal Poly campus on horseback, archival video from KCRA-TV shows. And here's your key." The jury hearing Paul Floress case began deliberations after closing arguments on Oct. 4. were in the room exactly where she had left them. But it was a local story and the thing that stood out to me is that nobody was talking about it anymore. most importantly they wanna find their daughter. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. Cole said he has the admission on a digital tape recording. Jonathan Vigliotti | CBS News correspondent: You wanted to go home, and you were trying to find a way to break it to your friend. A very close-knit family. James Murphy and Garin Sinclair look at the billboard that has been in their front yard for more than two decades. Lindsey Smart Stewart: It just amazes me the amount of evidence that's available, yet nothing has happened. Jonathan Vigliotti: Is this a case that takes a miracle to solve? Paul Flores and defense attorney Robert Sanger in court on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. Why? The next morning, Margarita waited to hear from Kristin. Smart's body was recently moved from the home of Ruben Flores, a prosecutor said. Just five months before Kristin disappeared, San Luis Obispo Police received a call from a student living off campus. Missing-person posters and billboards offering rewards appeared along roads and in other public places. They took in soil, I assume, for some kind of analysis. The defense also tells Lambert he will not be allowed back in the courtroom where he has been covering the hearing as he is now a potential witness. RUBEN FLORES: [long pause] We never asked that question. Also included is the result of a February 4th, 2020 search of Paul Flores San Pedro home, where San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs investigators seized electronic devices that featured videos showing Flores having sex with seemingly incapacitated women. Kristen has never been found. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Cole also testified that the Flores family was wiretapped for 30 days starting on January 5, 2020. IE 11 is not supported. Little is known since the proceedings are kept secret, but no charges were ever filed. Defense attorney Robert Sanger, in turn, tries to poke holes in Flemmings recollections. Chris Lambert: They did a significant amount of digging underneath the house. When they reached the turnoff to Cheryl's dorm, she says Flores tried to hug and kiss her. The court document was filed before bail arguments Monday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court when the father and son were arraigned. Jonathan Vigliotti: What toll over time did this have on your parents? After over 25 years, there is no evidence that Paul Flores committed the crimes for which there is no evidence.. Smarts family issues a statement following the news about Flores going to trial: Yesterday was a very good day and we want to take this opportunity to thank all of Kristins supporters in San Luis Obispo and beyond. But as Chris Lambert learned, Flores's pattern of behavior with women didn't stop. Chris Lambert: They didn't bring cadaver dogs with them. Denise Pearce: The phone call never comes. But one of those friends told police Flores already had the black eye when he arrived. The then eighteen-year-old . Kristen was in her first year at Cal Poly when she vanished in 1996. Ms. Smarts family said they had faith in the justice system, comforted in the knowledge that Kristin has been held in the hearts of so many and that she has not been forgotten.. Smart was talking with and socializing with several different males at the party. Margarita Campos: I'll never forget her shadow against the building, this apartment complex, just standing like kind of cross-armed with the long leg And she was just kind of like looking at me like, [sighs] you're really walking away now, like you're really, you're leaving? In April 2021, investigators charged Paul Flores, left, with Kristin Smart's murder, and his then-80-year-old father Ruben, as an accessory after the fact. Jonathan Vigliotti: And that phone call never comes. The defense questions Hudson about her drug use, but she says she was not doing drugs at the time. He's going to find her body, which is awful for a parent. Marital Status: Single Characteristics: Caucasian female with brown hair and eyes. Most students had taken off but Kristin had stayed on campus. Other witnesses included students who were at the party. DAN DOW [press conference]: The allegation against Ruben is that he helped to conceal Kristen's body after the murder was committed. In high school he was known as a loner. I was afraid Id end up missing or buried someplace, she says. JAMES MURPHY: Your husband have information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? She was never seen again. Flores wasn't talking. The Tribune said it got the public documents from the courthouse in the city 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles. We just, "do you know anything about it". so eventually he unlocked you know, the apartment door, and I left. And the body's not there now. In October 2022,. Man charged with 1996 murder of college student Kristin Smart. Murphy has filed a new civil suit against Ruben Flores for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Denise Pearce: To be almost there. Mesick declined to comment Tuesday, citing the gag order. Clockwise from left, Kristin, Denise, Stan, Matt and Lindsey. They went on trial in July 2022 in Monterey County, Calif. On Oct. 18, 2022, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart. The defense argued that other skateboarders who were at the San Luis Obispo location said they never saw Paul there, and Hudson's boyfriend denied ever seeing Paul in Huasna or anywhere else. During Tuesdays hearing, San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Detective Clint Cole testified about a conversation he had with Ruben Flores at his Arroyo Grande home when Cole was there to obtain a DNA swab. They asked him not to use their names: PODCAST EPISODE 2 | WOMAN #1: Well his nickname was "Scary Paul.". Murphy immediately filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Flores in civil court. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. It's, like, she has nothing on her.