Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
Paul Flores, 45, has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) student Kristin Smart.
His father, 81-year-old Ruben Flores, has been found not guilty of being an accessory to Smart’s murder.
A Salinas jury delivered the verdicts on Tuesday afternoon. The murder trial had moved to Monterey County after a San Luis Obispo County judge ruled the Flores could not get a fair trial because of too much pretrial publicity.
Prosecutors argued that Paul Flores raped or attempted to rape Smart and killed her in his dorm room while they both attended Cal Poly, and that his father Ruben helped move her body to his home in nearby Arroyo Grande, and hid her body under his deck for a period of time.
Smart’s body has never been found and she was legally declared dead in 2002. She was 19 years old.
Paul Flores has long been a person of interest in the case and Central Coast resident’s never forgot about Smart’s disappearance with billboards popping up around San Luis Obispo county.
A 2019 podcast, “Your Own Backyard” by Orcutt resident Chris Lambert, detailed the case and rapidly grew in popularity leading to renewed interest.
Nearly 25 years after Smart’s disappearance, Paul and Ruben Flores were arrested after law enforcement stated there was new evidence.
Soil samples at Ruben Flores’ house tested positive for human blood as well as “biological evidence” pointing to the victim being burried under the deck at one time. It’s now believed the body was moved to another location prior to the search by authorities, according to the prosecution.
The Flores’ attorneys stated there was a lack of evidence and eyewitness accounts, asserting their innocence.
Paul Flores faces 25-years-to-life in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9 at 9 a.m. at the Monterey County Superior Court, Salinas Branch, Courtroom 4.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated he is extremely pleased with the jury’s decision to convict Paul Flores but is disappointed for the acquittal of Ruben Flores as an accessory for helping conceal the crime.
“My thoughts now are with the Smart family. I made a vow to them many years ago, that we would not let Kristin’s memory be forgotten. Nor would we let her killer go unpunished. I thank them for their patience and support during this most difficult of times. This has been a very long case. A long trial. And a long road to justice. But there is no true justice until Kristin is reunited with her family. This investigation will not be closed until we find Kristin,” said Sheriff Parkinson.
A Smart family spokesperson stated, “while Kristin’s loving spirit will always live in our hearts, our life without her hugs, laughs and smiles is a heartache that never abates.”
Kristin Smart (courtesy photo)
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Paul Flores was free on bail during the trial. Following the jury’s verdict, was he remanded to custody pending sentencing?
Ruben Flores (father) was out on bail during the trail, Paul Flores (son) was in custody the entire trail and now, awaiting sentencing. Wonder if these two slim balls will ever give up the location of her remains, listening to the father during the interview yesterday using the old age victim card, so slimy. What upstanding members of the community, and the defenders of these folks, how can they live with themselves.
MM – I agree, slimy family, including the mom and her boyfriend. I wish they would just let come clean. It was hard listening to that dad and his lawyer talk yesterday.
Those two cowardly bas**rds should provide some comfort and closure to the Smart family by revealing the location/disposition of the remains.
But, alas, one can’t expect such ignominious bas**rds to ever act honorably.