Previously sealed documents related to the case become available to the public that explain the rape charges Peurelle attempted to add against Paul Flores. PODCAST EPISODE 5: If you were making a film about a new law enforcer who's coming to a small town to save the day, you'd probably cast Parkinson. By the time they called the Cal Poly campus police, Kristin had been missing for more than 48 hours. Flores, who had been seen with Smart earlier in the evening he attempted to flirt with her and apparently fell on her at one point, according to witnesses joined the group and allegedly accompanied Smart home. They believe they can prove Paul Flores is responsible for the disappearance of Kristin Smart. Ann-Marie Christian: Her parents reminded me of my parents. 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. But remarkably, the same thing happened with three more dogs. James Murphy: An eyewitness actually documented the fact that throughout the night that there was activity in the area of the underside of that deck. Later, the sheriff's office obtained a warrant for Ruben's DNA and Det. After over 25 years, there is no evidence that Paul Flores committed the crimes for which there is no evidence.. D.A. Other witnesses are also questioned, but Flemmings testimony is noteworthy as he is the first to say he saw Flores and Smart together before the party. 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. The trial got underway with opening statements on July 18 in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas. Her parents, Denise and Stan were both educators who encouraged their kids' passions. Garin Sinclair: He never once turned to the Smart family and said, hey, we have an earring, we'd like to show it to you to see if it matches any of your daughter's jewelry. In high school he was known as a loner. Axel Koester/Sygma via Getty Images The. Ms. Smart, who was from Stockton, Calif., was a freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. They took in soil, I assume, for some kind of analysis. Chris Lambert and it worked. And there would be more disappointment in 2007, after the Smart's legal team searched a small portion of Susan Flores's backyard with ground penetrating radar and did not find any evidence. She disappeared in 1996 after attending an off-campus party and while she was declared legally dead in 2002, her body has never been found. 1 of 47. Everyone knew Paul (Flores) was creepy. There's no question about it. Jonathan Vigliotti: What toll over time did this have on your parents? In the spring of 1996, Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old college student, left an off-campus party in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and walked home to her dormitory. About 45 minutes after Kristen got off of work on the day she vanished, she was seen on the 2nd f. I don't know if Kristin knew anybody there. Other witnesses included students who were at the party. Authorities made clear that they plan to use Flores' alleged predatory behavior against him. Murphy immediately filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Flores in civil court. Also taking the witness stand on Wednesday was Edward Chadwell. October 22, 2022 / 10:10 PM 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. Ruben Flores, was arrested at his home on the same day and was charged with being an accessory after the fact. The Smart's attorney James Murphy, and his wife and office manager Garin Sinclair, have had Kristin's billboard in their front yard since late 1997. JAMES MURPHY: Has your son ever told you that he did not kill Kristin Smart? Murphy and Sinclair promised the Smarts the billboard will stay until their daughter is found. What Chris did was take a local story and turn it into an international story. Back in May 1996, Kristin Smart was finishing her freshman year at California Polytechnic State University better known as Cal Poly. Jonathan Vigliotti: Was this case, given the evidence that was lost early on, doomed from the very beginning? D.A. Kristin Smarts family in 1999, three years after she was last seen walking home from a party in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Earthmovers were used in searches on and near the California Polytechnic State University campus in 2016. Plans & Pricing . SHERIFF IAN PARKINSON [to reporters]: It's been a puzzle and it's a very slow process to find each of those little pieces some of that information came to light through the podcast many of you are familiar with. Jonathan Vigliotti: She had just 40 yards to go and yet she vanished. Kristen has facial dimples. Kristen Modafferi. That turned out to be college. Kristen Modafferi: Onuma and the Briefcase. putting murder on the lawsuit was sending a message to Paul Flores and his family, that we believe that he killed Kristin and that we're coming for him. Lindsey Smart Stewart: I think they're, like, carrying boulders on their back. How could she have gone out of town? and offers to help. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Marital Status: Single Characteristics: Caucasian female with brown hair and eyes. It encouraged the previously reluctant to come forward. This obviously gave law enforcement new leads to follow and connect with what they already were holding close.. Ruben Flores, 80, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of accessory after the murder for hiding Smart's body after his son allegedly killed her. She was declared legally dead in 2002. When they reached the turnoff to Cheryl's dorm, she says Flores tried to hug and kiss her. San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office personnel dig in an area in the backyard of the home of Ruben Flores, in Arroyo Grande, Calif., March 16, 2021. Two days after her daughter went missing, Denise Smart got a call from Cal Poly's campus police. Paul Flores pleads not guilty to the murder and attempted rape of Smart. Related Stories Police investigated whether Durst, 71, who lived in San Francisco at the time Modafferi went missing, was connected to her disappearance. Paul Flores was charged with murder and Ruben Flores with being an accessory after the fact, accused of helping to bury her remains. Members of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department and FBI searched the grounds of Susan Flores's home in Arroyo Grande on June 19, 2000, for any evidence that might shed light on the disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Kristin Smart, a bright, adventurous communication studies freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, went missing May 25, 1996. Denise Smart, Kristins mother, has also praised the show. James Murphy: I'm not at liberty to describe how it was documented. Kristen Deborah Modafferi (born June 1, 1979; disappeared June 23, 1997) is an American woman who, at the age of 18, in the early summer of 1997, disappeared in mysterious circumstances after leaving her work at the Crocker Galleria Mall in San Francisco, California. She was looking forward to hearing from Kristin that Sunday. The 19-year-old, who is also from Charlotte and a . ", Although suspicion surrounded Flores almost from the beginning, any hopes for an arrest were dashed in May 1997 when then-Sheriff Ed Williams made an admission to the San Luis Obispo Telegraph: "We need Paul Flores to tell us what happened to Kristin Smart so absent something from Mr. Flores, I don't see us completing this case.". Specifically, that they had Paul's white Nissan pickup in their possession. He later argued that the biological evidence found under the deck was not conclusively human blood. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of focus on how Kristin was drinking what sounded a lot like victim shaming. The next month, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office took over from the Cal Poly police as the lead investigators. PODCAST EPISODE 4: At 8 a.m. on June 19th, 2000, a team of sheriff's investigators knocks on the front door of Susan Flores's East Branch Street home. Chris Lambert: They're hopeful, but they've also been let down so many times before. It had been the focus of widespread speculation for more than two decades especially her planter boxes. During Tuesday's hearing, San Luis Obispo County. Despite the fact that law enforcement had collected substantial evidence that Kristin Smart may have had reason not to return to her dorm room after leaving (fellow party-goers) Cheryl (Manzer) Anderson and Paul Flores and despite the fact that they had collected substantial evidence that there were multiple potential suspects who stalked, harassed or otherwise had conflicts with Kristin Smart, law enforcement made an early choice to change their focus to murder and to Paul Flores as the only suspect, Sanger wrote in a defense motion. Just very involved with their children. Peuvrelle, who said Ruben Flores has helped cover up the crime for nearly a quarter-century, would continue to do so if freed. The Tribune said it got the public documents from the courthouse in the city 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Case Cole testified that Hudson told him about Paul's statement and that she'd also seen Paul with his white pickup truck at the skateboard ramp in Huasna. You can go." Um, wherever we can punch holes. She adds that Flores said he put Smart under a skateboard ramp in Arroyo Grande. suddenly major pieces of evidence came forward. I knocked on her door, and I thought she was just sleeping, or she went out and about, you know? By the time they inspected Flores's room, Kristin had been gone for 16 days. In the months after Kristin's disappearance, one truck was traded in and the other was reported stolen. The Kristin Smart disappearance: After 26 years, Paul Flores is convicted of murder 20 photos. Nineteen-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of 1996. Maybe we cant. Susan's house was finally searched in March 1997 nine months after Kristin disappeared but nothing was found. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. DAN DOW [press conference]: The allegation against Ruben is that he helped to conceal Kristen's body after the murder was committed. James Murphy: I'd love to do anything to end their suffering. James Murphy: So why would Susan Flores, her boyfriend, and Ruben Flores be up all night long working under that deck. Due to the evidence gleaned from the excavation, it is reasonable to believe Ruben Flores currently knows the location of Kristin Smarts remains," Peuvrelle said. On Monday, he questioned why investigators needed to keep searching for evidence after making arrests. She was last seen in the Lands End area of San Francisco, close to where Laci and Connor washed up. Berkeley. Lambert says Kristin could not stand on her own, so fellow student Cheryl Anderson who was also at the party began helping her back to campus. So, when they were invited to a party that Friday night, Kristin was excited to go. The sheriff's office seized the trailer and Det. Just five months before Kristin disappeared, San Luis Obispo Police received a call from a student living off campus. to search on and near the Cal Poly campus. I didn't know how many people were gonna listen. Lindsey Smart Stewart: She definitely, like, took advantage of life, seized the day she was super ambitious and was determined you know, to find the next adventure. But Paul Flores was never charged with any of these incidents. On April 19, father and son each pleaded not guilty, according to The Associated Press. It's, like, she has nothing on her. Chris Lambert spoke with some women who knew Flores back then. A lot of women felt uncomfortable around him, Flemming says. The hearing began August 2 and is expected to last into at least next week. An earring that appeared to match the necklace Kristin is wearing on the billboard. 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. PAUL FLORES: On the advice of my attorney . Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. An important tip came in after a February 2020 search of Paul, Susan and Ruben's properties. She didn't think that was OK. Nineteen-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of 1996. Ms. Smarts family declared her legally dead in 2002, but the search, and the investigation, continued. D.A. Paul Flores, right, in court with his attorney Richard Hutton in 1996. Just days after taking over the investigation, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office brought several dogs trained to detect human remains, to the Cal Poly dorms. But cadaver dogs told a different story. The evidentiary hearing is underway and witnesses are testifying in front of Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen about Flores interactions with Smart. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. Even worse they never sealed his dorm room. The judge rules that the DA cannot be disqualified for wearing purple clothing. James Murphy: There's no way to get evidence back once you've lost it. Chris Lambert: It was never marked as evidence apparently. The two men made their first courtroom appearance on July 14 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, where Judge Craig B. van Rooyen denied the district attorneys motion to add two rape charges against Paul Flores, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo reported. Kristen Deborah Modafferi (born June 1, 1979; disappeared June 23, 1997) is an American woman who, in the early summer of 1997, disappeared in mysterious circumstances after leaving her work at the Crocker Galleria Mall in San Francisco, California. The two are charged in connection with the death of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. Ruben Flores and his estranged wife Susan have always denied any role in Kristin Smart's disappearance. Three more witnesses are expected to take the stand on Thursday, including two cadaver dog handlers.___. 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. He has denied any involvement. James Murphy: They're interested in seeing Paul Flores get convicted and Ruben Flores get held accountable. Cole said a search of it revealed "suspicious activity.". In the meantime, Paul Flores moved to Southern California, where he bounced from job to job. We are now one step closer to justice for Kristin. We want to especially thank the District Attorneys Office for their relentless efforts. The Kristin Smart Scholarship has been established by her family to help other college bound women pursue their dreams. Kristen was in her first year at Cal Poly when she vanished in 1996. These charges mark a major milestone, Dow says in a statement. D.A. Chris Lambert: At that point I don't think they had ever dealt with a missing person, a possibly murdered person. He never expected it would be a hit, but his podcast caught the attention of millions of listeners and sparked new interest in this decades-old unsolved case. The day after my sister disappeared, Paul Flores had a black eye and scratches on him. The mother is washing her car in the driveway at one point. Nikki Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the court, said the documents were not supposed to be public. Eighteen-year-old Kristen Modafferi was a college honor student from North Carolina spending her summer in San Francisco. They havent revealed what was found but returned to the yard for additional digging after the arrests. His father, Ruben, is charged as an accessory. In 1997 when Paul Flores was deposed for the civil suit, the only thing he would confirm on tape was his name. Let's go." Chris Lambert: And that's when they're told that earring has been misplaced. Flores and his parents have always maintained that he had nothing to do with Smarts disappearance. When authorities later confronted him with the two stories, Flores admitted lying and offered a new explanation. 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. In March, the Oakland Police Department released a statement saying that it had worked with the FBI and found no evidence indicating Durst was involved. That witness initially came forward to Chris Lambert, who passed the information to the sheriff's office and Murphy. To declare to the public if you stay quiet, you will get away with this. and I was like, "Noooo.". She was never seen again. Peterson. But to fully understand Chris Lambert's contribution, you have to go back to the beginning. Chris Lambert: Around the time Kristin disappeared, they cut out planter boxes in the backyard, so they cut out big chunks of concrete and filled it in with soil. He also said that law enforcement leaked information to "Your Own Backyard" podcaster Chris Lambert. A trailer was reportedly parked at Ruben's residence at odd hours and Paul's mother, Susan Flores, and her boyfriend were there. Jonathan Vigliotti: How significant was that? Smart appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on Friday night. Kristen Modafferi was last seen on the afternoon of June 23, 1997, at the coffee shop where she was working in the Crocker Galleria Mall in San Francisco, California. In March 2021, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores. Smart was talking with and socializing with several different males at the party. PODCAST EPISODE 2: So, with Cheryl's account alone, we have an unsettling picture of Paul . [emotional] I will go outside at nighttime and I'll look up at the full moon and I'll think that that kid's buried somewhere real close.
Professional Responsibilities: Nursing Action For A Client Who Has Chlamydia,
Articles K