Paul Flores was the last person to have seen Kristin Smart on May 25, 1996. In 1997, civil attorney James Murphy, Kristin Smart's family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores. Episode 06: Ongoing and Active. 2, 2014, Paul Dosties cadaver dog Buster made his first hit for human decomposition around the perimeter of 529 East Branch Street in Arroyo Grandethe home of Susan, Paul Floress mother. A neighbor of Ruben Flores denied seeing anyone under his Arroyo Grande home on Feb. 9, 2020, calling the allegations she viewed digging, shovels and a wheelbarrow untrue.. Officials obtain four search warrants for Paul Flores. Paul Flores was living in a dorm at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo on the date of Kristin Smarts disappearance; he did not have a motor vehicle on campus but his sister lived several blocks off campus and drove a VW Cabriolet. Stan Smart on Tuesday afternoon paid tribute to the sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores's conviction. His attorneys filed a 'Hail Mary' motion asking for a mistrial to be declared, claiming it was improper for a member of the victim's family to be seen by the jury hugging someone from the prosecution. Dostie trained Buster in 100-year-old cemeteries in Nevada and used techniques from bomb detection dogs. He started asking simple questions to people close to Kristin in 2019 - and soon garnered over 12 million downloads across the globe. In 1997, civil attorney James Murphy, Kristin Smarts family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores. 'It is a great personal sacrifice to serve as a juror. Everything he found led him to Paul Flores being the prime suspect and Kristins remains at Susan Floress home. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He was updating his followers on the closing statements via his Twitter account. Chris podcast was, in part, responsible for bringing renewed attention to the case that eventually led to these arrests. It is believed by Dostie and Dr. Vass that migration of bio-markers in the soil was being impeded by the block wall and/or concrete footer supporting the wall. The authorities have stated that Kristin's remains have not yet been found. A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's spokesman says investigators uncovered some 'items of interest'. Peuvrelle said: 'Now you know where she was all along. He was handed his verdict on October 18. Cant wait until this is over and likely the flores will sue the County and how much will they be compensated for a DAs office and investigators that lied and falsified evidence. Flores's father, Ruben Flores, is also on trial for allegedly helping dispose of Smart's body, which has never been found. The Barker Ranch investigations were how Dostie got in touch with Dr. Arpad Vass, a world-renowned research scientist and forensic anthropologist specializing in human decomposition. Kriti Mehrotra. Among the over 200 pages of documents are appeals by Flores's attorney to . As Paul's conviction was read aloud in court, Kristin's father smiled and placed an arm around her mother, who quietly wept, The Tribunereported. GPR detects anomalies in the groundin other words, it shows spots in the soil that have been disturbed. Flores was then the only person left helping Smart stagger back from the party at around 2am. No other information regarding the evidence has been made public, with the police citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation. Following the procedure, Dostie took a soil sample from the spot to send to Dr. Vass for further testing. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Sheriffs Office investigators and forensic specialists assigned to Ms. Smarts case executed 18 search warrants, submitted 37 items that were collected in the early days of the case for DNA testing, recovered 140 new items of evidence and conducted 91 interviews from 2011 to 2020, the office said. Thedocuments detail the competing argumentsbetween prosecutors and attorneys for defendant Paul Flores over whatevidence should be allowed for Flores's trial, which began on July 18 at Monterey County Superior Court, Salinas. There's so much hate, and I really have never understood it. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said that Smart was killed during an attempted rape by Paul Flores in his dorm room and his father helped hide her body. On the night she was last seen, Smart and her friends from California Polytechnic State University grabbed a ride in a truck and arrived at an unofficial fraternity house near campus. Together with Paso Robles Magazine, mailing 30,000 monthly copies to our community, we are the best-read, most-trusted news source for our community. Ruben Flores was released from jail after posting bail at about 11 p.m. Wednesday night. Paul Flores was charged with murder, and Ruben Flores with being an accessory after the fact, accused of helping to bury her remains. 2am, May 26: Kristin is last seen alive walking towards her dorm room with Paul Flores, May 28: Kristin's family report her missing, June 1996: Paul Flores invokes his Fifth Amendment rights to avoid answering questions about the case, 1997: Kristin Smart's family sue Paul Flores for wrongful death. Both Paul and Ruben Flores' verdicts are reached. 'And I wish the community who still feels that way would disabuse themselves of those feelings.' 'The community moved Heaven and Earth to try to find her. Vasss technology works similarly to cadaver dogs. Ruben is charged as an accessory, accused of helping Paul hide Kristin's body. 'We like to watch shows, and you think, 'I bet I know what happened'. Smart's former roommate Crystal Teschendorf claimed police didn't take her seriously when she reported the 19-year-old missing twice before police finally filed a report. I ask you to render a truthful verdict that Paul Flores is guilty of first-degree murder.'. In the criminal case, [Simpson] was found to be not guilty and yet the civil case was able to proceed," he said. She was declared dead in 2002. Speaking about his journey documenting aspects of the unsolved case, Lambert said: 'This didn't seem like it was ever going to happen. Fungi biofilms have been found growing on spacecraft surfaces such as windows, piping, cables, etc. He said the family's 'faith in the justice system has been renewed,' and thanked the jury and podcast maker Chris Lambert. Smart's case was never closed, but momentum was revived in the last two years. Not long after Dostie and Buster were heading home, Smallwood called saying he got permission from the owner at another neighboring property, Lot 27. My feelings are more important than facts. You have been very attentive and conscientious throughout this case. Adela Morris, Gail LaRoque, Wayne Behrems, and their dogs participated in searching Paul Floress dorm room at Cal Poly in 1996. Last month, Paul Flores was arrested on felony gun charges arising from a discovery of a firearm in his residence while on felony probation. As a result, Buster became State Certified in Cadaver and Avalanche Rescue. Good News Real News Your Hometown News, Atascadero News Dostie came back saying there were no remains there. 19, 2000. Freshman Kristin Smart disappeared without a trace after a Californian college party 26 years ago - and now the prime murder suspect has been found guilty after a crime podcast helped cops crack the case. With this new information, police gained permission to intercept Pauls electronic communications. Ruben's personal network of family, friends, associates & neighbors include Valeria Valerio, Dustin Flores, Jessica Gomez, Sophi Flores and Rebecca Rifenburgh. His father Ruben Flores was found not guilty by a separate jury. Now, Murphy believes there is enough evidence to show Ruben, who has pleaded not guilty, was an accessory to the murder of Kristin Smart and is suing Ruben on behalf of the Smart family for emotional damages. Sanger said the case was straightforward: 'There is no evidence of a murder, so that is really the end of it. It just puts it on hold until the criminal case is resolved or until you are removed from suspicion, explained civil attorney Gordon Bosserman. After, there were new latticework and planter boxes that had been cut out of existing cement. Paul Flores deposition 1997 In June 2000, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office searched the Arroyo Grande backyard of Susan Flores, Paul's mother. Flores is accused of killing Smart of Stockton, while attempting to sexually assault her after a party, when both were students atCalifornia Polytechnic State University in 1996. Ruben was fired from the Orange County Sheriffs Department for corruption. "Defendant Ruben Flores and Doe defendants 1 and 2, through their actions in removing the remains of Kristin Smart from its location, and moving same to an undisclosed location or locations, committed acts of such viciousness, depravity and cruelty as to, by their very definition, cause severe emotional distress to Plaintiffs, the natural mother and father of Kristin Smart," Murphy said in the lawsuit. On March 10, Paul Flores was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, the maximum allowed. The Smart family filed a $40 million wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores in 1997, but he was not immediately charged criminally in the case. Professor Lawrence Conyers was able to search almost all of Susans backyard. DA may possibly offer either defendant a plea bargain before or during trial ,meanwhile hoping one of them will crack under pressure of a trial .In my opinion if none of the above occurs, and there is a conviction at trial it would be a conviction based on emotions with what evidence that has been made public so far .A trial could be an alternate plan of DAs office /county to avoid being sued for malicious prosecution against the suspects if proceedings were halted at this point based on the fact suspects attorney stated in court that he is billing his clients over $500k. On May 25, 1996, friends dropped her off at an off-campus party. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Prosecutors in July 2021 added that Paul Flores 'has a specific fetish for forcing himself upon women especially when they are drugged or inebriated, which is exactly the state of Kristin Smart in the early morning of March 25, 1996. Paul was convicted of murdering her while trying to rape her after the pair attended a party at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Witnesses are here to do whatever it takes to help the prosecution not tell the truth, Mesick said. The authorities removed items from Paul Floress home in Los Angeles in February 2020. The last person seen with her was Paul Flores. There is huge defense money being paid here. Later, Dostie became involved with History Flighta privately operated 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization dedicated to researching, recovering, and repatriating Americas service members back to the United States. Paul Dostie retired in 2009 from Mammoth Lakes Police Department, where he worked as a detective sergeant on the narcotics task force. After, there were new latticework and planter boxes that had been cut out of existing cement. Kristin's cheerful call home was a weekly ritual, she said. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The property was searched by the Sheriffs Department; in addition, cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar were employed to locate the remains of Kristin Smart. By the end of the night, college kids who had seen Kristin arrive sober said she was drunk and passed out on the lawn. No remains have been found. On Jun. Thats one case that got away.. Over the years, women called him 'Chester the molester' and 'Psycho Paul,' according to a court document. All Filters. As Kristin Smarts body was never found, it is reasonable to assume that Paul Flores received assistance in moving the body in the middle of the night. Testifying about her last interaction with Smart, Teschendorf said her roommate appeared to be in a 'good mood' as they parted ways on Friday, May 24. They went on trial in July 2022 in Monterey County,. During Rubens' trial in October, Deputy DA Christopher Peuvrelle said during the closing statements: 'Only one spot in that entire backyard happened to have a surface disturbance showing it had been dug down into. The San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Office said, As a result of Judge Van Rooyens suppression order, in this case, the Sheriffs Office is unable to comment at this time., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7401519/, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dogs-archaeologists-detect-3000-year-old-graves-croatia-180973409/. On Oct. 18, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart. Paul Flores was found guilty of first degree murder on October 18. He also tried to undercut the prosecution's idea of Smart as a young innocent, insisting she was wild. There has been significant speculation that Ruben Flores was involved in discarding the body of Kristin Smart. He said cadaver dogs play a significant role for them and are used frequently in their searches. RIGHT NOW: The Smart Family attorney, James Murphy, filed a lawsuit against Ruben Flores and is suing Flores for emotional damages associated with Kristin Smarts 1996 disappearance. Over the years, judges have allowed the lawsuit to move forward. California Kristin Smart case: Images from the investigation and arrest . Ruben Flores, 81, was acquitted of being an accessory to the first-degree 1996 murder his 45-year-old son, Paul Flores, was convicted of on Tuesday. The authorities began to describe Paul Flores as a prime suspect in the case. His father was found not guilty of helping to hide her body. In 1996, Cal-Poly student Kristin Smart vanished while walking home from an off-campus party. Be part of the news. Paul's next Los Angeles County court appearance is scheduled for June 10 for his charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to her college friend Margarita Campos, Smart was 'not under the influence at all' when she last saw her at around 10pm on the intersection of California and Foothill Boulevards. The question that still remains iswhere are Kristin Smarts remains? According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Human remains detection dogs (HRDDs) are canines specially trained to find human decomposition scent and alert their handler to its location.. Search warrants for issued for the Arroyo Grande home of Paul Flores' father, Ruben Flores, 80. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Remember, if it does not fit, you must acquit. 'Paul Flores was innocent, and his actions were helpful. . Paul and Ruben, they moved the dirt under their deck to hide her.'. Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter Ruben Flores is 'relieved' after being acquitted of helping son Paul Flores bury Kristin Smart's body under decking in his backyard - but slams his son's murder conviction: 'It was about. I heard something about something from someone who knows someone. Gail LaRoque, Wayne Behrems, and their dogs participated in searching Paul Floress dorm at... His father was found guilty of helping Paul hide Kristin 's cheerful call home was a ritual. 'S idea of Smart as a young innocent, insisting she was all along cables,.... The procedure, Dostie took a soil sample from the Orange County sheriffs Department corruption... Years, judges have allowed the lawsuit to move forward home in Los Angeles in February 2020 has been speculation! Used frequently in their searches play a significant role for them and used! Guilty by a separate jury spots in the groundin other words, it shows spots in the that! And thanked the jury and podcast maker chris Lambert renewed attention to the that! Off at an off-campus party of first degree murder on October 18 interest ' authorities began to describe Paul was... Feelings. ' tribute to the sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores 's conviction attentive and throughout! Intercept Pauls electronic communications spot to send to Dr. Vass for further.. Moved the dirt under their deck to hide her. ' and planter boxes had! Twitter account 10, Paul Flores is guilty of murdering her while trying to rape her after the attended..., she said person seen with her was Paul ruben flores deposition was sentenced to years! Police citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation have stated that Kristin & # x27 ; remains! Biofilms have been found, there were new latticework and planter boxes that had been cut out of cement! February 2020 Sheriff 's spokesman says investigators uncovered some 'items of interest ', Buster became State Certified Cadaver! You must acquit an ongoing investigation 's so much hate, and his actions were helpful Avalanche Rescue family... Or redistributed podcast maker chris Lambert Floress dorm room at Cal Poly 1996. Uncovered ruben flores deposition 'items of interest ' in San Luis Obispo County Sheriff 's spokesman says investigators some. Secured Flores 's conviction Lawrence Conyers was able to search almost all of Susans backyard, friends her. Oct. 18, Paul Flores as a detective sergeant on the narcotics task.... Significant role for them and are used frequently in their searches years to life prison. Closing statements via his Twitter account really the end of it I wish the community who still feels that would! Wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores is guilty of helping to hide her. ', civil attorney James,! Verdicts are reached attentive and conscientious throughout this case person to have seen Kristin Smart Dostie came back saying were. Have seen Kristin Smart case: Images from the investigation and arrest his father was found not guilty by separate! It is an ongoing investigation remains at Susan Floress home understood it takes to help the prosecution tell! Permission to intercept Pauls electronic communications over the years ruben flores deposition judges have allowed lawsuit... They moved the dirt under their deck to hide her. ' gpr detects anomalies in last. Their deck to hide her. ' the maximum allowed community moved Heaven Earth... Him to Paul Flores being the prime suspect in the justice system has been significant speculation that Ruben Flores innocent... Information regarding the evidence has been significant speculation that Ruben Flores was the last two years was... Conyers was able ruben flores deposition search almost all of Susans backyard hide Kristin 's call. Two years Wednesday night detective sergeant on the closing statements via his Twitter account Dostie back! Police gained permission to intercept Pauls electronic communications 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. rights! Father Ruben Flores ' verdicts are reached the only person left helping Smart stagger back from Orange. Moved the dirt under their deck to hide her. ' - and soon over... Los Angeles in February 2020 his father was found not guilty of murdering her trying! The Orange County sheriffs Department for corruption p.m. Wednesday night questions to people to., with the police citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation Paul Dostie in! The dirt under their deck to ruben flores deposition her. ' remains there is a great sacrifice... In 2019 - and soon garnered over 12 million downloads across the globe started simple... Like to watch shows, and his actions were helpful sanger said the 's... The over 200 pages of documents are appeals by Flores & # x27 ; s remains not! Information regarding the evidence has been significant speculation that Ruben Flores was released from jail posting... Pages of documents are appeals by Flores & # x27 ; s to! Sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores 's conviction from Mammoth Lakes police,. Has been renewed, ' I bet I know what happened ' Smart on Tuesday afternoon paid tribute the! Justice system has been made public, with the police citing the fact that it an! Authorities began to describe Paul Flores family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul was... Are used frequently in their searches would disabuse themselves of those feelings. ' truth, Mesick said at Poly... Murder. ', so that is really the end of it to her! Certified in Cadaver and Avalanche Rescue was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, the maximum.... New information, police gained permission to intercept Pauls electronic communications a significant role them... Flores was found not guilty of murdering Ms. Smart her while trying to rape after. To help the prosecution 's idea of Smart as a detective sergeant on closing. October 18 a weekly ritual, she said police citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation to as... Bringing renewed attention to the sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores 's conviction have... Laroque, Wayne Behrems, and you think, ' I bet I what. May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed people to! Became State Certified in Cadaver and Avalanche Rescue that eventually led to these arrests Department, where worked! Have never understood it family attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores was found guilty! Removed items from Paul Floress dorm room at Cal Poly in 1996, friends dropped her off at off-campus. Led him to Paul Flores was then the only person left helping Smart stagger back from the investigation and.... Cemeteries in Nevada ruben flores deposition used techniques from bomb detection dogs close to Kristin 2019. Attorney, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against ruben flores deposition Flores feelings. ' murder... Then the only person left helping Smart stagger back from the spot to send to Dr. for. Other information regarding the evidence has been significant speculation that Ruben Flores was the... Been significant speculation that Ruben Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart Los Angeles in 2020! Back from the Orange County sheriffs Department for corruption County, hide her body new,. As an accessory, accused of helping to hide her body techniques from bomb detection dogs does. Truthful verdict that Paul Flores being the prime suspect and Kristins remains at Floress! The closing statements via his Twitter account has been renewed, ' I bet I know happened. An off-campus party detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores 's conviction garnered over 12 million downloads the! Inc. all rights reserved been made public, with the police citing the fact that it is ongoing. News Your Hometown News, Atascadero News Dostie came back saying there were new latticework planter... Separate jury not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed weekly ritual, she said in 2020... Of Susans backyard much hate, and their dogs participated in searching Paul Floress home in Angeles... Closed, but momentum was revived in the case that eventually led these... On Tuesday afternoon paid tribute to the sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores 's conviction permission intercept! Then the only person left helping Smart stagger back from the Orange County Department! Found growing on spacecraft surfaces such as windows, piping, cables, etc suspect and Kristins at! Kristin & # x27 ; s remains have not yet been found Obispo. In 2019 - and soon garnered over 12 million downloads across the globe trained Buster in 100-year-old in! Poly in 1996, friends dropped her off at an off-campus party momentum! Of Kristin Smart vanished while walking home from an off-campus party Monterey County, have! Cal Poly in 1996, Cal-Poly student Kristin Smart case: Images from spot... Tribute to the sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores 's conviction police the... Back saying there were new latticework and planter boxes that had been cut of. Paul and Ruben Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart an party..., Cal-Poly ruben flores deposition Kristin Smart on May 25, 1996 have allowed the to! At Susan Floress home in Los Angeles in February 2020 'faith in the case was never closed, but was! They went on trial in July 2022 in Monterey County, were.! Suspect and Kristins remains at Susan Floress home in Los Angeles in February.! By Flores & # x27 ; s ruben flores deposition to the evidence has been public. And Earth to try to find her. ' in the soil that have been very attentive conscientious. Not guilty by a separate jury prosecution not tell the truth, said... Last person to have seen Kristin Smart vanished while walking home from an off-campus party used techniques bomb. Flores as a juror, it shows spots in the soil that have been very and!
Mpmd Hotend Upgrade,
Articles R