Paul Flores, 44, was charged earlier this week with first-degree murder for the killing that allegedly happened as he tried to rape then 19-year-old Stockton native Smart in his dorm room at. Send pics, videos and tips to CCN. PODCAST EPISODE 3: Something shiny catches her eye next to the front driver side tire. PODCAST EPISODE 2 | WOMAN #2: You wouldn't want to be alone in a room with him. Denise Smart told the Examiner in 1998, Were not after Paul Flores; were not trying to persecute Paul Flores. And she was growing as an individual. He has a sister whose name is Ermelinda Thomas. 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. The mother is washing her car in the driveway at one point. James Murphy: They're interested in seeing Paul Flores get convicted and Ruben Flores get held accountable. And yes, we believe it's linked to Kristin. Brief explanation of how they screwed it up? Last month, deputies conducted a two-day search for Smarts remains at the home of Ruben Flores. And six months later, when Flores was deposed by James Murphy for the Smart's civil suit, he kept quiet. Just five months before Kristin disappeared, San Luis Obispo Police received a call from a student living off campus. Like the Smart's civil case, theirs also has been on hold. Cole also states, this could have very well been an accident that night while telling Thomas he believes she knows what happened and had some involvement by being a good sister., Cole offers Thomas full immunity in exchange for her telling the truth about what she knows. He needs to swing for the fence to get reelected. And there were those nonstop tales of Flores being touchy-feely with her friends. Margarita Campos: I was expecting her to knock on my door and be, like, "Oh, Margarita, you missed a rager. Paul and Ruben Flores appeared before a San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge via Zoom on Monday. Then, in April 2021, Paul . Recently released court documents detail a one-time immunity deal previously offered to Paul Flores' sister, Ermelinda Thomas. In January 2020, Smarts mother, Denise Smart, told the Stockton Record that she had been contacted by the FBI regarding her daughters disappearance. He'd go anywhere. His father Ruben Flores charged with being an accessory after the factwas found not. No-no-no. And when they did . When authorities later confronted him with the two stories, Flores admitted lying and offered a new explanation. The Daily Beast reported in November 2016 that four women had come forward to accuse Flores of sexually assaulting them. It was never like Hey you want to go hookup? He never made advances and he would just say Hi at school.. He was staring at my face looking at me and he was enjoying himself.. 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. At the time, they did not know about a missing college student. We are giving you an opportunity to be a witness and not a defendant, as I'm not sure Paul will protect you. I called my mom. His father Ruben Flores charged with being an accessory after the factwas found not guilty. Ruben's attorney, Harold Mesick, dismissed the evidence against his client as "so minimal as to shock the conscience.". Now several women say they were victims before and after her, too. And had law enforcement drilled a handful of holes in Floress mothers backyard to search for evidence that Smart might be buried there, perhaps Floress alleged serial sexual assaults would have been prevented. Ken Blum is the editor. James Murphy: they let the dog in, the dog makes a beeline to the bed of Paul Flores. And he leaves her to walk up this walkway. No charges were filed, but Lambert discovered Flores's troubles started at a young age. I drank this drink and I dont know what it was but let me tell you something the next thing you know I was passed out, Jane said. Paul is charged with murder in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Murphy and his wife, Garin Sinclair, agreed to take the case pro bono promising to go after Paul Flores and put pressure on the sheriff's office. She regretfully denounced them as cruel rumors at the time. James Murphy: The question for decades was "Well, where did the body go?". They were after Paul Flores for an outstanding DUI warrant. But it's Susan Flores's concrete backyard that initially received a lot of attention. And I was like, "nah, I have to study." D.A. Chris Lambert: And he says he got a black eye playing basketball with his friends. She was gone. Like what may have been discovered in March 2021 when investigators searched Ruben Flores' house using cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar. When asked about how he got the injury Flores told three different stories. She was last seen alive with Paul Flores, a classmate who offered to walk an inebriated Smart to her room. Ruben Flores, 80, will be facing trial in April 2022 alongside his son as he was charged with accessory to murder after the fact. Chris Lambert: Paul keeps stopping along the way and letting Cheryl Anderson know, you can go on ahead. Meanwhile, three other women told The Daily Beast that Flores sexually assaulted them after Janes assault and Smarts disappearance. Cal Polys only interest was in a coverup. That could have been me.. At one point, Flores said that he woke up with a black eye. Flores was subpoenaed before a grand jury in relation to Smarts disappearance but left after just five minutes of questions. He tells Thomas that he has not attempted to contact her or anyone else from her family previously because it was obvious to me that former detectives harassed your family in the past and I do not operate that way., He states, When I started reviewing this case, I kept an open mind and assumed that Paul Flores was not involved in Kristins disappearance. And it all came back to me. Chris Lambert: I wish I knew why. Any evidence that might have been there was long gone. Prosecutors argued in court during the September 2021 preliminary . My job was to hunt them. Be part of the news. And the complaint has some explosive claims about what led investigators to focus under Ruben's deck in the first place. PODCAST | EPISODE 1: At least once a day I asked myself what are you doing? Nothing ever mentioned to any of them. Thats how we metI was walking and he pulled over and said to me Hey, Ill take you to school, she remembered Flores asking her. 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. 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? Ann-Marie Christian: Her parents reminded me of my parents. James Murphy: Somebody found an earring that they say was Kristin Smart's jewelry in the driveway. The sheriff's office still wasn't convinced they had enough evidence against Flores. He invoked the Fifth Amendment 27 times. And Murphy and Sinclair believe they can prove it. In another case, he was granted probation. Smart, a native of Stockton, was nearing the end of her freshman year at Cal Poly when she vanished on May 25, 1996, after attending an off-campus party. Chris Lambert was just 8 years old when Kristin Smart vanished on her way home from a college party in San Luis Obispo, California. The podcast, "Your Own Backyard,"has drawn millions of listeners and focused renewed attention on this decades old case. But Sarah kneed Flores in the groin and kicked him in the shin before dashing off into the party. Doesnt sound plausible. One late night at a Hermosa Beach bar Flores courted a 21-year-old student whom well call Laura. I didn't know how many people were gonna listen. Devastating. Still she stuck around until Flores allegedly laid his hands on her aggressively again. In the months after Kristin's disappearance, one truck was traded in and the other was reported stolen. They didn't bring a forensics team. Smart has long been suspected to have been abducted and killed in May 1996, while she was a freshman at California. And here's your key." Four Women Say the Man Suspected of Murdering a College Student Sexually Assaulted Them JUSTICE DENIED Paul Flores was the last person seen with Kristin Smart before she vanished in 1996. Paul is very soon going to be in a position where he needs to tell us his story, this case will be solved soon. In October 2022, Paul Flores, the man long suspected in her disappearance, was found guilty of murder. Flores was named as a key witness in the case in July 1996. That witness initially came forward to Chris Lambert, who passed the information to the sheriff's office and Murphy. Chris Lambert: They didn't bring cadaver dogs with them. Those dogs led officers to Flores mattress but no hard evidence was found. Our main goal is to bring Kristin Smart home to her family and end this madness for you and your family. For more information, please see our I have this PTSD fear of someone kicking the door in.. But I've seen it. And might have connected Kristin to Susan Flores's house, says James Murphy. Jane said she kept this secret for yearseven from her husband. Flores was imprisoned at Santa Barbara County Jail for a time. In high school he was known as a loner. That warrant allowed them to dig up the backyard, but deputies chose not to excavate. 19 years after the disappearance of Kristin Smart from Cal Poly's campus, Paul Flores still remains the only suspect. Since Parkinson came on the scene, investigators have dug up hillsides; searched the homes and properties of all the Flores'; collected evidence; seized Paul Flores' computers; monitored his cell phone and text messages, and found new witnesses -- some with the help of Chris Lambert. That turned out to be college. Comment Guidelines. In Southern California, investigators served a search warrant at Paul Flores' San Pedro home. Lindsey Smart Stewart: It just amazes me the amount of evidence that's available, yet nothing has happened. SHERIFF IAN PARKINSON [at press conference]: Forensic physical evidence was located. That was a huge judgment error. In order to produce the documentary, Lambert quit his job to devote himself to the podcast. Lindsey Smart Stewart: I think they're, like, carrying boulders on their back. SUSAN FLORES: [Long pause, grabs water bottle] Of course not. Heres hoping that the truth about what that dirtbag and his dad did comes out and Kristin gets the justice she deserves. Our roommate came in and yelled Leave her alone. Flores wasn't talking. It's fine. JAMES MURPHY: Do you have any information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? 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. That mother, Mary Lassiter, described it to Chris Lambert. Chris Lambert: I remember seeing it on the news it was something scary and they were talking about it pretty regularly. People vs. Flores #1: Motions. Sheriff Ian Parkinson was able to confirm that forensic physical evidence that authorities believe is linked to Kristin was located at, at least two homes. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of evidence that could have been gathered, that wasn't. Jonathan Vigliotti: And that weighs on you. I guess the answer is yes. At the time of Smarts disappearance, the vehicle belonged to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. In October 2022, Paul Flores, the man long suspected in her disappearance, was found guilty of murder. The parents. In 2002, after getting kicked out of Cal Poly, rejected by the Navy, and flipping burgers, Flores matriculated at LA Harbor Community College. 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. They believe they can prove Paul Flores is responsible for the disappearance of Kristin Smart. When approached about Janes rape claim, an Arroyo Grande Police Department administrator said in an email that their search revealed no such records exist; therefore, there are no responsive documents. Before their findings, another administrator told The Daily Beast on the phone that because the matter was a sexual assault case it fell under a non-disclosure category and therefore they wouldnt be providing any specific information about it. Meanwhile, the FBI, who recently excavated earth at Cal Poly to look for Smarts remains, referred comment to the sheriffs office. Pretty sad how Cal Polys upper admin interfered with the PDs work and made this investigation go away. I told him, You never do this again! Denise Pearce: The investigation was completely botched by the campus police. The living room had a TV and one sofa and the floor was white, she said. Its an ugly secret that made the Smart family unnecessarily agonize for nearly 25 years! Jonathan Vigliotti: And that phone call never comes. Chris Lambert: Kristin became incredibly intoxicated, whether she was drugged or whether she just had a lot to drink in a short amount of time She ends up passed out on the lawn next door. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. You can go." An important tip came in after a February 2020 search of Paul, Susan and Ruben's properties. The two men are set to stand trial next spring in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Cal. 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?? Then in Feb. 2021, Los Angeles police officers arrested Paul Flores in Rancho Palos Verdes on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm. suddenly major pieces of evidence came forward. I could not imagine being his mother. Often, Sarah would be at one party or another and there was Flores. Jonathan Vigliotti | CBS News correspondent: You wanted to go home, and you were trying to find a way to break it to your friend. 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. Ruben Flores was released on $50,000 bail to his ex-wife. Paul Flores' attorney on Tuesday asked for a hearing to investigate the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office for what he described as bias in the Kristin Smart case. A hundred percent that was happening. All the news reports conveniently ignore Cal Polys obstruction in their timelines. The two girls walked to an area off campus where there were fraternities, sororities and residential housing for students. After they broke up, Laura did a little sleuthing and discovered her ex-boyfriend was accused in Smarts vanishing. Paul was born to Ruben Flores (Father) and Susan Flores (Mother). Remember, Flores's room had been emptied and thoroughly cleaned. "48 Hours" has learned these suspicions center around evidence found during that 2020 search of Paul Flores' home. Authorities allege that Flores instead took Smart to his own dorm room and killed. In November 2019, supporters of Smarts family held a vigil outside of Susan Flores home, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported at the time. Whatever happened in those early hours, one thing is indisputable: Kristin Smart has never been seen again. James Murphy: There's no way to get evidence back once you've lost it. Paul was not an experienced hardened criminal, if they investigated early and subjected him to a proper interrogation, they likely could have broken him and gotten him to confess, assisted by any circumstantial evidence they could have gathered. I've got her. Chris Lambert: Everything else, he took the Fifth Amendment. Paul and Ruben were arrested and charged in connection with Kristins death in April 2021. And these girls are inviting us out. Would you? James Murphy: If it was, in fact, a piece of jewelry that matched Kristin's jewelry, it would have been blockbuster evidence. Arroyo Grande High School graduate Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart on the night she disappeared. Thomas attorney says she accepted the letters, but did not give any statements and later goes on to say that Thomas should not have to testify because she does not have any material testimony to provide during any proceedings in this case and also states she does not qualify as a material witness.. 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. Margarita Campos: Kristin was like, "come on, let's go, let's go." Any tidbit of information or recollection could make the difference in the recovery of our beloved Kristin., disappearance of another woman under almost identical circumstances: Kristin Smart. Please come with me." Denise Pearce: The phone call never comes. Kristin Smart was dropped in the dumpster and she is in the landfill. Sources tell us investigators discovered videos and photographs on Flores' computer showing him engaged in sexual activity with at least 10 different women, apparently in various states of consciousness. Multiple attempts to reach Flores and his parents to comment on the new accusations were unsuccessful. He was soon released from custody. There was early mistakes made that you can't recover from when you're missing those vital pieces. 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. She didn't think that was OK. PODCAST EPISODE 4: And he had like a butter knife and he like held it to my neck. You ALWAYS ask your interns about it? But Mary Lassiter says the earring matched the necklace Kristin is seen wearing on the billboard. When I say I know Pauls involved, his own words saying so are one of the things I know that prove it. Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. Ruben Flores and his estranged wife Susan have always denied any role in Kristin Smart's disappearance. For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. IF you knew your family member was out raping girls? Do a little research before sharing your sage advice. 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. Jonathan Vigliotti: Was this case, given the evidence that was lost early on, doomed from the very beginning? PODCAST EPISODE 2: So, with Cheryl's account alone, we have an unsettling picture of Paul . Chris Lambert: I personally think that wherever Kristin went, Paul was there with 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. He later argued that the biological evidence found under the deck was not conclusively human blood. Two years later Smart would go missing and when suspicion quickly fell on Flores, Jane decided then and there that she may have been one of the lucky ones. I don't know if Kristin knew anybody there. Previous. Four months later, while attempting to reconcile, Susan rented out her house in Arroyo Grande. In August 2011, a Facebook page dedicated to the search for Smart published his exact address. But Parkinson acknowledges it hasn't been easy. I remember thinking: If my moms not home Im going to die right here.. Susan Flores and her boyfriend were never charged in the case. These suspicions center around evidence found under the deck was not conclusively blood. 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