Peterson was a 24-year-old student at Cal Poly at the time of Smarts disappearance. She did not walk away and dig herself a grave. I now know for sure he is, and Kristin is dead, and so do you.. I have worked with Cal Poly interns for years and always ask if they were told anything about Kristen Smart during WOW. I could not imagine being his mother. Comment Guidelines. Most knew about it, no thanks to Poly, and now all do thanks to Chris Lambert. She was last seen alive with Paul Flores, a classmate who offered to walk an inebriated Smart to her room. They sold the truck and the other car but kept the VW? 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. Heres hoping that the truth about what that dirtbag and his dad did comes out and Kristin gets the justice she deserves. I was willing to do what I could to assist in that. The Santa Maria Times reports that Flores has three DUI convictions on his record, as of 2007. During a camping trip in Fresno, California, in the early 1990s, Flores's female cousins playfully swiped and hid his wallet while walking en route to a liquor store to purchase slush puppies. KSBY Investigates: Kristin Smart Disappearance. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. 19 years later, still no body, no arrests made, and no answers. In exchange, Flores would disclose where Smarts remains are located. Kristin Smart murderer Paul Flores seeking a new trial, San Luis Obispo debates allowing bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. Unblurred are Paul Flores (top center) and Ermelinda Flores (top right). The Daily Beast reported in November 2016 that four women had come forward to accuse Flores of sexually assaulting them. Do you have a point you would like to make? The documents include information about a January 2020 appearance from a San Luis Obispo County sheriffs detective at Thomas Washington home. Paul Flores has long been the lone suspect in Smarts disappearance. In January 2020, Smarts mother, Denise Smart, told the Stockton Record that she had been contacted by the FBI regarding her daughters disappearance. "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. Paul Flores plays soccer at St. James Catholic School, 1982. Please, let the guilty be found, and her memory finally be at peace. Paul Flores (44) and Ruben Flores (80) were taken into custody on April 13, 2021. Her house was raided/electronics taken last year along with her parents and brothers homes. At the time of Smarts disappearance, the vehicle belonged to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. Is this Susan posting? I believe (Flores) took her life. Paul Flores at a St. James classmates birthday party, 1983. Chris travels down to the South Bay, and attempts to trace Paul Flores' predatory behavior from its origins to the present day. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Shortly after that, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff sniffer dogs were brought on the Cal Poly campus. More than 3,000 pages of documents have been released as part of the case. Flores, now 44, was arrested simultaneously along with his 80-year-old father Tuesday. 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. 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. One can only image the horrors she grew up with. https://www.thedailybeast.com/four-women-say-the-man-suspected-of-murdering-a-college-student-sexually-assaulted-them. Paul Flores at a St. James classmate's birthday party, 1983. Almost all knew nothing about it, thanks to Poly. Could answers be coming in Kristin Smarts disappearance? Police questioned Flores but over the years he was never charged and remained mum about the case, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent when he was deposed in a 2005 wrongful death civil suit brought against him by Smart's parents, which they subsequently dropped. . Brief explanation of how they screwed it up? It wouldnt be surprising to learn. I hope they all do. An immunity deal was offered to her in 2020, Paul Flores in court July 18 during opening statements in the Kristin Smart murder trial happening in Salinas, Monterey Co. Superior Court/NBC News Dateline. I needed [the sheriff's office] to do their job. Cal Poly student, Kristin Smart, went missing in 1996. IF they knew he was out there murdering, raping etc. His father, Ruben, is facing a charge of accessory to murder. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? 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. 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. She was last seen alive with Paul Flores, a classmate who offered to walk an inebriated Smart to her room. The parents stopped renewing the tags in 2010 and parked the Volkswagen in Rubin Flores garage. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Kristin Smart was dropped in the dumpster and she is in the landfill. Maybe she's just as awful as the rest of them, or maybe not. The pair appeared in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. READ NEXT: Teenage Porn Star Controversy Rocks California High School, Paul Flores: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Kristin Smart investigation: A timeline of the Cal Poly student's disappearance, SLO Co. Sheriff confirms key pieces of evidence in Kristin Smart case, Conducting physical evidence searches at nine separate locations, A complete re-examination of every item of physical evidence seized by all agencies involved in this case, Submission of 37 evidence items from the early days of the case for modern DNA testing, Conducting 91 person to person interviews. Man receives three months in prison for shooting and killing elephant seal, Natural Healing Center opens pot shop in Morro Bay, CCT pausing, get your local news at CalCoastNews, Storms cause more than $100 million of damage in SLO County, Driver goes off Highway 1 in Cambria, hits tree, Crews find possessions but slow down search for Kyle Doan, Caltrans to evacuate residents trapped between Highway 1 landslides. A month later, Thomas home was reportedly one of four Flores family homes searched by authorities. 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. Susan Flores reportedly told a co-worker (who is interviewed in Your Own Backyard) that Ruben was violently abusive. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. The two alleged culprits are being held at the San Luis Obispo County . Dow . Why did they keep it? 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. Flores faces a murder charge. Paul's sister reportedly lives in that area. While she told her parents to call her before she left, she never spoke to them. All the news reports conveniently ignore Cal Polys obstruction in their timelines. They used cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar to search Ruben Flores property. After seizing an old car, digging in the back yard and taking evidence San Luis Obispo County sheriff deputies concluded their search of an Arroyo Grande home related to the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart. Flores was subpoenaed before a grand jury in relation to Smarts disappearance but left after just five minutes of questions. Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, spoke to California outlet KSBY News on Tuesday, marking her first-ever press interview. The Kristin Smart disappearance: After 26 years, Paul Flores is convicted of murder 20 photos In 2011, the Smarts hoped those boulders would become a little lighter when Ian Parkinson became the . They continued to bungle the case for a month, not properly interviewing Paul Flores or other witnesses and never searching his room. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was committed to having the disappearance of Smart reexamined by investigators. Then RF immediately called Ermalinda to possibly go get PF, while Ruben was en route. Paul Flores escorted Smart back to her dorm after an off-campus party. In November 2019, supporters of Smarts family held a vigil outside of Susan Flores home, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported at the time. Smart disappeared on her Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus two decades ago and now the search there is back on. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. Smart was declared legally dead in 2002 and her body has yet to be recovered. They used cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar to search Ruben Flores property. His father, Ruben, is facing a charge of accessory to murder. Send pics, videos and tips to CCN. Nothing in this portion of the documents states Thomas accepted the offer of immunity or provided any information to authorities. "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. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Deputies towed the car from Rubin Flores home on Monday afternoon. 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. Lambert said in January 2019, I believe that Paul Flores is responsible for her death and I believe that he knows where she is currently located. I can show you a video of Paul admitting he knows what happened to Kristin Smart, his letter states. 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. 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.. 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. No one ever saw Smart again. Check out the podcast Your Own Backyard if you want to get the details on everything known to this point: https://www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com/episodes. I just logged on and the first two articles I read both have your comment asking about our DDs experience. 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. He is the father of Paul Flores, the only suspect in the disappearance of Smart. You can get varying levels of agreement about whether what I did directly led to an arrest. CategoriesFeatured, Special ReportsTagsKristin Smart, Paul Flores, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office. Doesnt sound plausible. Arroyo Grande High School graduate Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart on the night she disappeared. For his part, the podcaster, Chris Lambert, said he "was one piece of the formula. We are encouraged by the news of todays search of Ruben Flores property. Smarts family said in a statement they released on Monday. His father, Ruben, is charged as an accessory, accused of helping cover up the crime. The Daily Beast report says that Flores is accused of having an accomplice in the crime. Cal Poly agreed that Kristens case would be incorporated as an educational tool into the freshmen Week of Welcome orientation. "I feel good about the case at this point," Lambert told the Tribune. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was committed to having the disappearance of Smart reexamined by investigators. Support local news. He was soon released from custody. 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. Flores sported the injury in his booking photo. Powered by. How do you stay friends with someone like that?!!!!! 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. Mixed with pressure from Ruben. Getty At the time of Smarts disappearance, Flores was a 19-year-old food science major at Cal-Poly. The letter from the DAs Office has similar wording about the immunity deal. Facebook 0 Twitter LinkedIn 0 Reddit Tumblr Pinterest 0 0 Likes. Shes had two decades to end the Smarts torment. So how does Cal Polys lack of accountability and my water cooler conversation violate any decent standard? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "Even with what I found, I can't go arrest somebody. Apparently one witness may be an Australian exchange student who returned home after finals and was unaware of the case. Might be referring to interview where Paul tells investigators that he thinks Kristin is dead. I find Parkinsons involvement of Cal Poly and their clown of a president in this news conference as distasteful and pandering to Cal Polys interests. 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. St. James Catholic School Christmas Party, 1982. In 2007, Flores had a DUI case dismissed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Is the Five Cities Fire Authority's future in jeopardy? Ermelinda Macarthur was born on 03/19/1974 and is 48 years old.Ermelinda Macarthur currently lives in Kenmore, WA; in the past Ermelinda has also lived in Long Beach CA, Arroyo Grande CA and Bothell WA.Other names that Ermelinda uses includes Ermelinda M Macarthur, Ermelinda M Flores, Ermelinda M Mac Arthur, Ermelinda Flores and Ermelinda M Thomas. At a Tuesday press conference announcing the arrest of Paul Flores and his father Ruben in connection with the death of Smart, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said investigators interviewed new witnesses thanks to the popular eight-part series Your Own Backyard. Approximately a dozen San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles county deputies descended Wednesday morning on the home of Paul Flores, a suspect in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart . They probably used her car because she was the least "famous" member of the family (yeah let's involve her in a MURDER because that's what FAMILIES do). Ruben Flores, and his sister and mother . At that time, the car belonged to Paul Flores sister Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. Authorities in California are crediting a true-crime podcast for helping them solve the Kristin Smart case. He had pinned her down and had his hand down her bathing suit groping her., Link: https://www.thedailybeast.com/four-women-say-the-man-suspected-of-murdering-a-college-student-sexually-assaulted-them. Atascadero city manager announces retirement. Paul Flores lived in this home from 1992 to late 1996, and sporadically throughout the years since. Wednesday afternoon, news crews were outside the home when Susan Flores pulled into the driveway. Now. To his credit, the Sheriff both credited Matthew Lamberts podcast series and admitted mistakes (2 weeks B4 any investigation, dorm room cleaned, ignoring roommates pleas the day after she disappeared, wont seek warrant for bank records because shes a 19 y.o. That's why he's the way he is. I see the son Did nit get bail.. Good .. Has our district attorney ever tried a murder case? Hey interns, so back when you did WOW, did they tell you all about the girl that was violently raped and murdered in the dorms?? Paul Flores escorted Smart back to her dorm after an off-campus party. How Does This Happen, I started Biz in AG in 1989 ,I am now 58 I do not have any kids So Sad .. Monsters .. 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. 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. We only want our daughter back. At the time of the article, Flores was living in Southern California. I wondered this too. Actually his violent behavior started earlier than high school. The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. Laci Peterson had also been a student at Cal Poly. Very interesting read. 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. 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.