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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. Jonathan Vigliotti: You look at Kristin Smart every day. She was never seen. Ian Parkinson: Yes. In April 2021, investigators charged Paul Flores, left, with Kristin Smart's murder, and his then-80-year-old father Ruben, as an accessory after the fact. Smarts remains have never been found, but authorities recently said they believe they know where she was buried, though they havent disclosed the location. He said a backhoe had excavated a trench to dump soil that was removed to lay a nearby foundation. Case In his complaint, Murphy alleges, along with Ruben, there were two other unnamed individuals. Her younger sister Lindsey says their mother urged Kristin to go there. PAUL FLORES: On the advice of my attorney . The defense argued that other skateboarders who were at the San Luis Obispo location said they never saw Paul there, and Hudson's boyfriend denied ever seeing Paul in Huasna or anywhere else. She left around 2 a.m. and was accompanied by Paul Flores, who was also a student at Cal Poly. Kristin Smart case: Suspects Paul and Ruben Flores arrested in the In October 2022,. Ruben will be released on bail that he can afford. Paul Flores pleads not guilty to the murder and attempted rape of Smart. The authorities began to describe Paul Flores as a prime suspect in the case. Devastating. Chris Lambert: Kristin's father would come down and hike every trail he could find on the Central Coast. Chris Lambert: I brought them a number of witnesses that they were very interested in. JAMES MURPHY: Does your son have any information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? 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. The sheriff's office still wasn't convinced they had enough evidence against Flores. And the body's not there now. All Rights reserved. 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. James Murphy: If it was, in fact, a piece of jewelry that matched Kristin's jewelry, it would have been blockbuster evidence. So had Margarita Campos, who lived in the next room in Muir Hall. In April, Paul Flores, 44, was arrested on one count of murder in connection to the case, and his father, Ruben Flores, 80, was arrested as an accessory after the fact. Det. Jonathan Vigliotti | CBS News correspondent: You wanted to go home, and you were trying to find a way to break it to your friend. Flores was also in possession of Tramadol and Flexeril, known as date rape drugs. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. That's when the campus police finally handed the investigation over to The San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office but they did not find Kristin. His father was found not guilty of helping to hide her body. But to fully understand Chris Lambert's contribution, you have to go back to the beginning. 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. Flores was first interviewed by Cal Poly police investigators near the end of May 1996, according to The San Luis Obispo Tribune, and the Cal Poly police didnt search his room until June 10th. An earring that appeared to match the necklace Kristin is wearing on the billboard. Van Rooyen saying that his release could result in great bodily harm to the public. SUSAN FLORES: [Long pause, grabs water bottle] Of course not. She was declared legally dead in 2002. And Murphy and Sinclair believe they can prove it. It is every parent's worst nightmare. Flores defense team serves Your Own Backyard podcaster Chris Lambert with a subpoena to serve as a witness in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on August 30th, as he has interviewed several witnesses before they spoke to law enforcement. Margarita Campos: I mean, she was gone. And that's what I've been doing for a long, long time, along with a lot of other people. In the crowd, taking it all in, was that podcaster, Chris Lambert. The Tribune said it got the public documents from the courthouse in the city 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. But now, 25 years later, a man sits in a San Luis Obispo County Jail cell, charged with her murder. She was she was frantic I don't understand this, you know? They have not been able to proceed with the civil case while there was an ongoing criminal investigation, but that didn't stop them from following every lead and preparing for an eventual trial. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. What happened to Kristen Modafferi? - AdvertisingRow.com Chris Lambert: At that point I don't think they had ever dealt with a missing person, a possibly murdered person. James Murphy: I'm not at liberty to describe how it was documented. After apparently becoming intoxicated, Smart headed back to her dorm with fellow partiers Tim Davis and Cheryl Anderson. Cole also testified that the Flores family was wiretapped for 30 days starting on January 5, 2020. Cole reportedly testified that Ruben asked why Susan Flores, who is Pauls mother, and her boyfriend were also being swabbed when he was the only one who committed a felony. James Murphy: The question for decades was "Well, where did the body go?". That's when Cole said Ruben asked why they would also be collecting DNA from Susan Flores and her boyfriend and Ruben told him, "They did not commit a felony, only I did.". Investigators in Kristin Smart case serve search warrant at the home of the prime suspect's father Smart was last seen near her California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) dorm, but she. During Tuesdays hearing, San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Detective Clint Cole testified about a conversation he had with Ruben Flores at his Arroyo Grande home when Cole was there to obtain a DNA swab. but I knew that I could try to do a small part. It also expounds on several other alleged rapes as well as unwanted sexual advances. His father, Ruben Flores, pleads not guilty to being an accessory to the crime after the fact. The sheriff's office seized the trailer and Det. The Kristin Smart Scholarship has been established by her family to help other college bound women pursue their dreams. Paul Flores talks to his attorneys Sara Sanger and Robert Sanger on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021 in San Luis Obispo, Calif. had been arrested in connection with her disappearance, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart, while in the commission of, or attempted, rape. James Murphy: He lied to the police about everything. Kristin Smart 19, a freshman at California Polytechnic State University had gone to a party on Friday, May 24 , 1996 -- and has not been seen since. They havent revealed what was found but returned to the yard for additional digging after the arrests. But Paul Flores remained behind bars help without bail. Five months after Kristin Smart disappeared, Paul Flores was brought before a grand jury but no charges were ever filed. Convicted killer Scott Peterson is expected to be called to the witness stand at a pre-trial hearing in California involving the 25-year-old disappearance of co-ed Kristin Smart. Jonathan Vigliotti: They thought she was off possibly having fun. Later, the sheriff's office obtained a warrant for Ruben's DNA and Det. He wouldn't answer a single thing. And here's your key." For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. Smart's body was recently moved from the home of Ruben Flores, a prosecutor said. Chris Lambert: As they describe it, Paul Flores just sort of appears out of nowhere. Paul Flores is charged with first-degree murder and is accused of killing Smart while attempting to rape her. The unsealed documents include two claims from 2011 and 2017 that Flores raped two women while they were drunk in San Pedro. The defense claims the prosecution is wearing said color as a result of a Facebook request on the site Justice for Kristin Smart' to wear purple during a Memorial Day celebration. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. That witness initially came forward to Chris Lambert, who passed the information to the sheriff's office and Murphy. Cole also talked about his interview with Jennifer Hudson in November 2019. I've got her. Even though he'd never investigated anything before, Lambert quit his job to create a podcast about the case. When they were deposed by James Murphy, they also insisted their son was not involved. It's just a motivator for me. Paul Flores was identified as a person of interest early in the case. The mother is washing her car in the driveway at one point. Murphy immediately filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Flores in civil court. 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. Ruben's attorney, Harold Mesick, dismissed the evidence against his client as "so minimal as to shock the conscience.". He built the home on White Court for Ruben and Susan Flores in 1991. You, youre the one that can tell me, a reference to Lamberts Your Own Backyard, the podcast about Smart and Flores that has brought new attention to the case. Lindsey Smart Stewart: It just amazes me the amount of evidence that's available, yet nothing has happened. DAN DOW [press conference]: It is alleged that Mr. Flores caused the death of Kristen Smart while in the commission of or attempted rape. The Disappearance of Kristin Smart: What Happened and What's Next Paul Flores killed Kristin Smart in dorm room during attempted rape, DA James Murphy and Garin Sinclair look at the billboard that has been in their front yard for more than two decades. Cole said he has the admission on a digital tape recording. to search on and near the Cal Poly campus. They were soon joined by another partygoer, Paul Flores. 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. The 18- year old coed from North Carolina was taking a summer photography class at the University of Califorina Berkeley when she vanished June 23rd, 1997. The defense also tells Lambert he will not be allowed back in the courtroom where he has been covering the hearing as he is now a potential witness. So, they did not immediately get a warrant to search Susan Flores's home. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Ms. Smarts family said they had faith in the justice system, comforted in the knowledge that Kristin has been held in the hearts of so many and that she has not been forgotten.. Smart appeared to be under the influence of alcohol on Friday night. Um, wherever we can punch holes. Flores defense team moves to recuse the San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office from the Smart case because prosecutor Peuvrelle and others have been seen wearing purple clothing, Smarts favorite color. Chris Lambert: Everything else, he took the Fifth Amendment. There's no question about it. PAUL FLORES: On the advice of my attorney, I refuse to answer that question based on the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution. Previously sealed documents related to the case become available to the public that explain the rape charges Peurelle attempted to add against Paul Flores. He has not been charged in those incidents. Testimony resumes at the Kristin Smart hearing after a week off. Produced by Lisa Freed. Ruben Flores was released on $50,000 bail to his ex-wife. Chris Lambert: There was a man climbing her trellis and trying to get inside her balcony, very intoxicated and refusing to leave. Hudson previously testified during the preliminary hearing that while hanging out with a group of skateboarders in San Luis Obispo in 1996, she heard Paul Flores use a derogatory term to refer to Kristin Smart and say, "I'm done playing with her and I put her out underneath my ramp in Huasna.". On October 18, 2022, Paul Flores was found guilty of first-degree murder. 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. Jonathan Vigliotti: And that phone call never comes. to find the next challenge. He'd go anywhere. https://www.nytimes.com/article/kristin-smart-case-timeline.html. 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. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. PODCAST EPISODE 2 | WOMAN #2: You wouldn't want to be alone in a room with him. Chris Lambert: He actually hit his eye on his steering wheel in the middle of the night while changing his stereo. "48 Hours" has learned these suspicions center around evidence found during that 2020 search of Paul Flores' home. PODCAST EPISODE 3: Something shiny catches her eye next to the front driver side tire. The police searched her dorm room in Muir Hall, finding her wallet and reminders to turn in assignments. PODCAST EPISODE 4: And he had like a butter knife and he like held it to my neck. He was required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. Cadaver dogs trained to detect human decomposition were deployed by the F.B.I. But Margarita says, the police did not seem concerned. Kristen Modaferri Observer file Family and friends of a Charlotte woman who has been missing for nearly two decades are awaiting results after a possible break in the case came Thursday.. But on April 13, 2021, after an investigation that spanned nearly a quarter of a century, the authorities announced that two California men Paul Flores, now 45, and his father, Ruben Flores, 81 had been arrested in connection with her disappearance. 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. Chris Lambert: I remember seeing it on the news it was something scary and they were talking about it pretty regularly. When Kristin Smart disappeared, Paul Flores's parents Susan and Ruben were separated and living apart. Her parents, Denise and Stan were both educators who encouraged their kids' passions. His father, Ruben, is charged as an accessory. Chris Lambert: It was never marked as evidence apparently. The search for Ms. Smart, who was nicknamed Roxy, took many forms. Jonathan Vigliotti: How did you know she hadn't been back? But every Sunday when she called her parents, they encouraged her to stick it out. Authorities also uncovered fibers consistent with the color clothing Smart was last seen wearing. The day after the arrests, Dan Dow, the San Luis Obispo County district attorney, said that Paul Flores had caused the death of Ms. Smart while in the commission of, or attempted, rape. Ruben Flores helped to hide her remains, he said. Mary Lassiter says the earring she found in the driveway matched the necklace Kristin Smart is seen wearing on this billboard. Judge denies multiple unusual requests in Kristin Smart hearing And she's like, "please come with me. Ruben Flores, was arrested at his home on the same day and was charged with being an accessory after the fact. Below, Rolling Stone outlines where the Smart case is now: San Luis Obispo District Attorney Dan Dow announces chargesagainst Paul Flores and his father Ruben in connection with what he calls the 1996 homicide of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. It was first reported by The Tribune, and a reporter posted snippets of documents on Twitter. James Murphy: There's no way to get evidence back once you've lost it. PODCAST EPISODE 2 [LAMBERT READING REPORT] Smart does not have any close friends at Cal Poly. Cole went to his White Court home to collect it on May 19, 2021. Chris Lambert: So much was lost in those first few days where if that very first phone call was taken seriously answers might have been uncovered the first week. Margarita Campos: I'll never forget her shadow against the building, this apartment complex, just standing like kind of cross-armed with the long leg And she was just kind of like looking at me like, [sighs] you're really walking away now, like you're really, you're leaving?