CA KRISTIN SMART: Missing from San Luis Obispo, CA - 25 May 1996 - Age 19 *PAUL FLORES GUILTY*

Kristin was last seen on May 25, 1996. Her nickname is Roxy. FOUL PLAY IS SUSPECTED.
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Smart was a freshman architecture major at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California in 1996. She departed from an off-campus party and headed for her dormitory at approximately 1:30 and 2:00 a.m. on May 25, 1996. At the party, Smart was acting as if she was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. When she left the gathering, she was having trouble walking.

Smart was accompanied by a female acquaintance and another student from the university, Paul R. Flores, when she left the party. Her friend separated from Smart and Flores at the intersection of Perimeter Road and Grand Avenue on the college campus.

Flores allegedly told Smart's friend that he would see Smart to her home. She was last seen walking north on Grand Avenue with Flores, towards Muir Hall, her dormitory. Smart has never been heard from again. She was not carrying any identification, cash or personal belongings at the time she vanished.

NCMEC -

Have you seen this child? KRISTIN SMART

Missing From: SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. Missing Date: May 25, 1996 12:00:00 AM. Kristin was last seen on May 25, 1996. Her nickname is Roxy. FOUL PLAY IS SUSPECTED.

www.missingkids.org

NamUs -

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Doe Network -

1652DFCA - Kristin Denise Smart

Although there's been an arrest in her case, KRISTIN SMART is still missing from San Luis Obispo, CA and has been since 5 May 1996 - Age 19

Three fellow students escorted Smart back to her hall of residence after an off-campus party. A fellow Cal Poly student, Paul Flores, was the last person known to have seen her alive.

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Mel70]

Kristin Smart case: Paul and Ruben Flores to begin in-person preliminary hearings July 6

Paul Flores faces first-degree murder charges in the commission of rape against Smart. His father, Ruben, is charged with accessory in hiding her body.

www.recordnet.com

Kristin Smart case: Paul and Ruben Flores to begin in-person preliminary hearings July 6​

A July 6 preliminary hearing date was set on Monday for Paul and Ruben Flores who both are charged in the death on Stockton native Kristin Smart.

Both men were present via Zoom for Monday's proceedings. A pre-preliminary hearing date was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 23 and new media rules were also ruled upon.

San Luis Obispo County judge approves cameras for Flores preliminary hearing

A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge on Monday confirmed a July 6 start date for the preliminary hearing in the Kristin Smart murder trial and approved the use

santamariatimes.com

San Luis Obispo County judge approves cameras for Flores preliminary hearing​

A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge on Monday confirmed a July 6 start date for the preliminary hearing in the Kristin Smart murder trial and approved the use of photo news coverage inside the courtroom.

During a Zoom hearing, Judge Craig Van Rooyen denied a request to prohibit electronic media coverage filed by Bob Sanger, the attorney representing Paul Flores, who is accused of sexually assaulting and killing Smart.

It's about time. Finally.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Preliminary hearing in Kristin Smart murder case postponed

A preliminary hearing for the two suspects charged in the murder of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart has been delayed.

santamariatimes.com

Preliminary hearing in Kristin Smart murder case postponed​

A preliminary hearing for the two suspects charged in the murder of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart has been delayed for at least one week.

The hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores was originally scheduled to begin Tuesday but now is tentatively slated to begin July 12 upon a judge's approval. Court officials expect the hearing will last 12 days.

Harold Mesick, who represents Ruben Flores, could not comment on the reason for the delay granted Wednesday due to a gag order in the case.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kristin Smart murder case on track for preliminary hearings July 20

Parties of the Kristin Smart case met Monday to discuss witnesses for the preliminary hearing and motions to be discussed further beforehand.

www.recordnet.com

Kristin Smart murder case on track for preliminary hearings July 20​

In preparation for next week’s 12-day preliminary hearing concerning the disappearance of Kristin Smart and the two men being charged in connection to her murder, the court convened Monday to discuss witnesses and subpoenaed records to be used next week.

The preliminary hearing has been delayed twice due to the defense’s claims of not receiving discovery from the District Attorney’s office. It is now scheduled to begin July 20.

 

[Mel70]

Kristin Smart murder case on track for preliminary hearings July 20

Parties of the Kristin Smart case met Monday to discuss witnesses for the preliminary hearing and motions to be discussed further beforehand.

www.recordnet.com

Kristin Smart murder case on track for preliminary hearings July 20​

In preparation for next week’s 12-day preliminary hearing concerning the disappearance of Kristin Smart and the two men being charged in connection to her murder, the court convened Monday to discuss witnesses and subpoenaed records to be used next week.

The preliminary hearing has been delayed twice due to the defense’s claims of not receiving discovery from the District Attorney’s office. It is now scheduled to begin July 20.

Let's get going already.

 

[Mel70]

Her poor family has been through enough. All the years. Unbelievable.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Judge refuses to add rape charges in Kristin Smart case

The San Luis Obispo district attorney’s office had sought to add two rape charges — for offenses it said were committed in Los Angeles County after Smart disappeared — to the complaint filed …

www.presstelegram.com

Judge refuses to add rape charges in Kristin Smart case​

A judge has denied a prosecutor’s bid to file rape charges against the man accused of killing California college student Kristin Smart, who went missing 25 years ago.

The San Luis Obispo district attorney’s office had sought to add two rape charges — for offenses it said were committed in Los Angeles County after Smart disappeared — to the complaint filed against Paul Flores in Smart’s death, KEYT reported Wednesday.

The judge ruled against the DA’s motion and scheduled a preliminary hearing in the murder case for Aug. 2, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

Attorneys for the Floreses have denied that their clients committed any wrongdoing. A lawyer for Paul Flores on Wednesday called the prosecution’s attempt to add the rape charges a “publicity stunt,” according to KEYT.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Unsealed documents in Kristin Smart case reveal details of backyard search, other accusations against Paul Flores

Some previously sealed documents related to the Kristin Smart murder case are now open, and the 80 pages reveal new details about what authorities say they uncovered during their investigations.

www.ksby.com

Unsealed documents in Kristin Smart case reveal details of backyard search, other accusations against Paul Flores​

Some previously sealed documents related to the Kristin Smart murder case are now open, and the 80 pages reveal new details about what authorities say they uncovered during their investigations.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

29 women say San Pedro suspect in Kristin Smart’s death abused them

The women described disturbing and dangerous encounters with Paul Flores, the man charged with killing missing college student Kristin Smart.

www.dailybreeze.com

29 women say San Pedro suspect in Kristin Smart’s death abused them​

More than two dozen women described disturbing and dangerous encounters — including sexual assaults while they were semi-conscious and felt drugged — with the man charged with killing missing California college student Kristin Smart.

Incidents with Paul Flores ranged from creepy stalking to unwanted touching to aggressive sexual behavior to, more recently, being drugged and raped after meeting him at bars, according to a document unsealed Wednesday in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court.

Flores was referred to as “Chester the molester” and “psycho Paul,” former fellow college students said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Rural Calif. hills reportedly searched for Kristin Smart's remains

Last week, unsealed court documents showed the prosecution believes the suspect in...

www.sfgate.com

Police reportedly searching rural California hills for Kristin Smart's remains​

Investigators are reportedly searching the hills of Arroyo Grande, a city about 20 miles south of the Cal Poly campus, for the remains of missing college student Kristin Smart.

Last week, unsealed court documents from the prosecution said investigators found a "large approximately 4-foot-by-6-foot anomaly" under the back deck, as though "someone dug the soil out and put it back," prosecutor Christopher Peuvrelle wrote. Soil within the area was tested and came back as a likely match for human blood, prosecutors allege.

A neighbor on White Court also told investigators she noticed unusual activity at the Flores home in February 2020. According to the neighbor, she saw Paul's mother and Ruben's ex-wife Susan Flores and her boyfriend Mike McConville. The witness said Ruben Flores, Susan Flores and McConville attempted to "back an enclosed travel trailer to the back of the house near the deck."

On Wednesday, Chris Lambert, who helped revive interest in the case with his popular true crime podcast "Your Own Backyard," said police were following up on tips he received from listeners.

"Since appealing to the Central Coast in Episode 10, I’ve received dozens of tips from citizens who have spotted unusual activity," Lambert wrote on Instagram. "Several of those tips pointed to one area in particular, and after passing the information on to law enforcement, investigators are following up TODAY and searching for Kristin Smart’s body in an area of rural Arroyo Grande that the Flores family has returned to repeatedly."

Neighbors told KTLA they saw detectives searching near the Huasna Road area. This is not the first time the investigation has zeroed in on this area. In 1996, police unsuccessfully searched the hills, and they've returned a few times over the years after receiving tips.

Investigators and prosecutors have declined to comment on this week's search.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/article253188278.html

Kristin Smart case: Preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores begins today​

A preliminary hearing in the case of missing Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart was scheduled to begin Monday morning in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.

It’s expected to last at least 12 full days.

The hearing will likely feature a series of witnesses including investigators, archaeologists and cadaver dog experts, as well as women who are expected to testify to Paul Flores’ past sexual assaults and predatory behavior.

The hearing is not being live-streamed and members of the media in attendance are under strict rules prohibiting the use of electronic devices in the courtroom.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article253188473.html

Kristin Smart murder case: Here’s what happened on Day 1 of preliminary hearing​

The parents of missing Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart spoke Monday morning in San Luis Obispo Superior Court during a preliminary hearing for two men accused of killing their daughter and hiding her body.

“She always felt like a gift to our family,” Denise Smart said of her daughter. “She was so energetic and had a great smile. She was the best hugger.”

Paul Flores stared mostly straight ahead during the first day of proceedings, rarely looking in the direction of his father or the news media sitting in a corner of the courtroom.


Here is what occurred on Day 1 of the preliminary hearing: (more details at link)

KRISTIN SMART’S MOTHER IS FIRST WITNESS CALLED IN PRELIMINARY HEARING​

LAWYERS MOVE TO STOP SUBPOENA OF PAUL FLORES’ MOTHER​

In arguing against the subpoena, attorney Jeff Radding told Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen that Susan Flores, if called to testify, would invoke her right against self-incrimination because, he argued, her words on the stand would be misquoted and misconstrued in the press and on social media.

KRISTIN SMART’S FATHER RECALLS MONTHS AFTER DISAPPEARANCE​

WITNESSES SPEAK ABOUT HOUSE PARTY WHERE SMART WAS LAST SEEN​

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Sheriff's detective, retired police investigator testify during hearing for Paul, Ruben Flores

The preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores heads into Day 3 Wednesday.

www.ksby.com

Sheriff's detective, retired police investigator testify during hearing for Paul, Ruben Flores​

Paul and Ruben Flores were back in court Wednesday for day three of their preliminary hearing where more people were being called to testify.

Detective Clint Cole

Court was on the record Wednesday at 9:17 a.m. Prosecutor Chris Peuvrelle submitted an arrest report into evidence from May 27, 1996 when Paul Flores was arrested by Arroyo Grande police for driving on a suspended license.

Lawrence Kennedy

Retired Cal Poly police investigator Lawrence Kennedy took the stand after Cole. Serving as an investigator from 1985-2003, he reportedly investigated Kristin Smart’s missing person’s report the Monday and Tuesday after she went missing over Memorial Day weekend in 1996.

 

[fran]

Defense In Kristin Smart Murder Hearing To Call Scott Peterson To Testify​

SAN LUIS OBISPO (CBS13) – The defense team for the man accused of killing Kristin Smart is preparing to call Scott Peterson to the stand.

Lawyers for Paul Flores say Peterson and Smart knew each other while they both attended Cal Poly more than two decades ago. It’s unclear when Peterson may testify, but the defense for Flores is making arrangements to transfer him to San Luis Obispo County from San Quentin.

Peterson has been behind bars after being sentenced to death in 2005 for murdering his wife Laci Peterson and their unborn child. Peterson’s death sentence was overturned last summer after the California Supreme Court ruled sentencing was unfair and jury selection was impartial. His conviction still stands.

Investigators say Flores was the last one to see Smart, of Stockton, as she walked back to her dorm after an off-campus party 25 years ago. She was never seen again and her body has not been found.

The preliminary hearing for Flores is ongoing and could last three to four weeks.

Defense In Kristin Smart Murder Hearing To Call Scott Peterson To Testify

Lawyers for Paul Flores say Peterson and Smart knew each other while they both attended Cal Poly more than two decades ago. It's unclear when Peterson may testify, but the defense for Flores is making arrangements to transfer him to San Luis Obispo County from San Quentin.

sacramento.cbslocal.com

 

[fran]

In a twist, Kristin Smart's alleged killer wants Scott Peterson to testify​

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Two of the most infamous criminal cases in California were linked together in a surprise court development this week.

The defense for the man accused of killing Kristin Smart hopes to call convicted killer Scott Peterson to testify at an upcoming preliminary hearing, KEYT reported.



The lawyer for Paul Flores, 44, wants Peterson to testify because he and Smart allegedly knew each other when they both attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in the 1990s.

Intertwining the case of one of California's most well-known crime victims with one of the state's most recognizable convicted killers is not likely to go far, according to legal experts.


Flores, also a former Cal Poly undergrad, was charged this year with allegedly murdering Smart after a party in 1996. Her body has not been found, though prosecutors alleged that she had been buried in the backyard of Flores' father, who has also been charged.

Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife Laci and their unborn child in 2002. He was sentenced to death in 2005, but a state Supreme Court overturned the penalty portion of the case last year, though the conviction stands.

Flores' attorney has made arrangements to transport Peterson from San Quentin State Prison to San Luis Obispo to testify, according to KEYT.

But it's unlikely that Peterson will be summoned to court without proof suggesting he was knows about her disappearance, according to KTVU legal analyst Michael Cardoza. If he is brought to court, however, don't expect him to say anything. Peterson would presumably refuse to testify under Fifth Amendment protections if it's suggested that he had a role in her death, Cardoza said.

The defense has not presented any evidence the Peterson is connected to the case.

"You cannot call a witness to the stand in a trial that is going to take the Fifth Amendment. A judge would prevent that because it would create an illusion that the person who's taking the fifth actually committed the crime. So they're not going to be allowed to testify," Cardoza further explained.

Cardoza said another hurdle for the defense team is filing a motion to remove Peterson from state prison.

"The district attorney would certainly fight that, and I would imagine state prison would, without some reasonable proof that Scott Peterson may have committed this crime. The defense cannot go on a fishing expedition," Cardoza said.

He said a judge and the district attorney will likely block the motion.

Flores was the last person seen with Smart on May 25, 1996, at Cal Poly where they were both freshmen.

Prosecutors said he killed Smart while trying to rape her in his dorm room after he had agreed to walk her home from a party, where she had gotten intoxicated. Investigators believe Flores' father Ruben, helped him conceal Smart's body. Her remains have never been found.

The preliminary hearing in the Kristin Smart murder case is set to resume on Monday.

In a twist, Kristin Smart's alleged killer wants Scott Peterson to testify

Two of the most infamous criminal cases in California were linked together in a surprise court development this week.

www.ktvu.com

 

[Cousin Dupree]

Is he going to use him for a character witness!

 

[Guess Who]

Is he going to use him for a character witness!

What could go wrong?!!!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

3 major moments so far during the Kristin Smart preliminary hearing

Over three weeks, the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court has held a preliminary hearing in the Kristin Smart case

www.latimes.com

3 major moments so far during the Kristin Smart preliminary hearing​

For the past three weeks, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court has been holding a preliminary hearing in the Kristin Smart case. It is meant to determine whether or not the prosecution has enough evidence to hold a trial. On Monday, a judge approved a two-day pause in the hearing; it will continue today.


There have been some unexpected moments. For instance, convicted killer Scott Peterson has been brought up during the hearing.

Here are other highlights:

• A woman named Jennifer Hudson testified that she may have heard Paul Flores admit to burying Smart, according to television station KSBY. Hudson says in June 1996, she was with a group of people who heard a public announcement on the radio calling for information about Smart. It was at this point that Paul Flores used vulgar terms to refer to the missing student and said, “I’m done playing with her and I put her out underneath my ramp in Huasna.” On cross-examination, Hudson was asked how she was sure it was Paul Flores. She said he had “dead eyes.” She was asked what color his eyes were, and she couldn’t recall.
• Paul Flores’ ex-girlfriend claims that she was kept away from the backyard where investigators say Smart’s remains were buried, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune. The woman, identified as “Angie Doe,” said she tried to pick an avocado from the backyard at the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores. “I don’t remember if it was Mr. Flores or Ruben, but they redirected me away from the avocado trees,” she said. “They told me to come around [the house] and get away from that area.”
  She has also told investigators about a time when the pair passed a billboard that carried an image of Smart. When she asked Paul Flores about the sign, he said “Oh, just some girl who went missing,” and didn’t mention any involvement.
• The creator of the popular podcast “Your Own Backyard,” which examines Smart’s disappearance, has been called to testify, the Tribune reported. The defense team served Chris Lambert with a subpoena because of his interviews with many witnesses before they spoke to law enforcement. Lambert’s social media pages appear to have been taken down.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article253967528.html

Kristin Smart: Experts testify about ‘significant soil disturbance’ under Ruben Flores’ deck​

Two archaeologists hired by investigators used ground-penetrating radar under the deck of Ruben Flores’ house and found “significant soil disturbance” in a patch of dirt that was “potentially a burial” site, they testified in court.

Testimony resumed Tuesday in the weeks-long preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores, accused in the disappearance of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart.

Tuesday marked the 19th day of proceedings as the evidentiary hearing begins its sixth week.

The hearing, which began Aug. 2, is now tentatively scheduled to conclude by Sept. 10.

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article254093713.html

Scott Peterson testimony excluded from Kristin Smart hearing, judge rules​

Defense witness testimony related to convicted murderer Scott Peterson and other alleged “possible suspects” will not be allowed at the preliminary hearing for the men accused in Kristin Smart’s disappearance, a judge ruled Thursday.

But that ruling could change in about two weeks if defense attorneys are able to gather evidence that the testimony should be allowed, the same judge said at the end of Thursday’s proceedings in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Kristin Smart case: Paul and Ruben Flores to stand trial next April

Paul Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, appeared in court on Wednesday for arraignment after a San Luis Obispo County judge ruled there is enough evidence for them to stand trial.

abc30.com

Kristin Smart case: Paul and Ruben Flores to stand trial next April​

A trial date has been set for the man charged with murder in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart and for the defendant's father, who is accused of helping to hide her body.

Paul Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, appeared in court on Wednesday for arraignment after a San Luis Obispo County judge ruled there is enough evidence for them to stand trial.

The trial will begin on April 25 next year, according to KEYT-TV.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Judge confirms April 25 trial date for Paul, Ruben Flores

The father and son defendants charged with the death and disappearance of Kristin Smart appeared Monday during a pretrial conference in San Luis Obispo to confirm their trial start date

santamariatimes.com

Judge confirms April 25 trial date for Paul, Ruben Flores​

The father and son defendants charged with the death and disappearance of Kristin Smart appeared Monday during a pretrial conference in San Luis Obispo to confirm their trial start date for April and work out details regarding discovery.

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelle indicated there was a hearing for a tentative defense motion to dismiss charges in January, although he asked to have the hearing pushed to February because he and the two defense attorneys said they would be in other trials.


The case now proceeds to the April trial date, with a readiness conference scheduled for April 6.

Paul Flores is currently in custody at San Luis Obispo County Jail with no bail amount listed. Ruben Flores is out on $50,000 bail.