This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Kristin did not have a purse, money, her I.D. Cole in 2019. We want to hear it. It is also what the Smarts have been waiting for for more than a quarter of a century. So now you've got three different stories about how he got that black eye. Paul invoked the Fifth Amendment when the DAs office subpoenaed him to testify before a grand jury in 1996 and after the Smarts filed a $40 million wrongful-death lawsuit against him; during a 1997 deposition, he again pleaded the Fifth. Real Name: Kristen Deborah Modafferi Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: San Francisco, California Date: June 23, 1997 Bio Occupation: Student Date of Birth: June 1, 1979 Height: 5' 8" Weight: 140 lbs. The elder Flores is charged with accessory after the fact to the crime of murder for allegedly helping Paul conceal Smarts body. JAMES MURPHY: What is your present residence address? Chris Lambert: They did a significant amount of digging underneath the house. 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. Ann-Marie Christian: Her parents reminded me of my parents. So many people have played such important roles over the past 25 years, and we are humbled by the amazing support and generosity we have received. Chris Lambert: And that's when they're told that earring has been misplaced. The body of Kristin Smart, which has never been found, was recently moved from the home of Ruben Flores, a prosecutor said, according to a document filed Monday and posted on social media by a reporter for The Tribune of San Luis Obispo. Smarts remains have never been found, but authorities recently said they believe they know where she was buried, though they havent disclosed the location. James Murphy: They brought in the first dog and they'd had the dog go through the dorms. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. 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. Det. As of 2021, Kristen Modafferi's case remains unsolved. James Murphy: And it says wrongful death and then I put murder. But while campus police weren't doing much, Kristin's parents were doing whatever they could to find their daughter. Marital Status: Single Characteristics: Caucasian female with brown hair and eyes. The jury hearing Paul Floress case began deliberations after closing arguments on Oct. 4. 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. What's going on? But the judge indicated he would set a reasonable bail amount Wednesday for the father, who has health problems is currently in the San Luis Obispo jail on $250,000 bail. 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. Like his black eye, seen faintly in a mug shot taken by the Arroyo Grande Police just by chance two days after Kristin vanished. But as Chris Lambert learned, Flores's pattern of behavior with women didn't stop. But one of those friends told police Flores already had the black eye when he arrived. The next morning, Margarita waited to hear from Kristin. 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. No remains have been found. Nic Coury / AP. The younger Flores has long been the only person of interest in Smarts disappearance; she was last seen on May 25th, 1996, after attending a party near campus. It's fine. On Monday, he questioned why investigators needed to keep searching for evidence after making arrests. Paul Flores was charged with murder and Ruben Flores with being an accessory after the fact, accused of helping to bury her remains. Jonathan Vigliotti: Was this case, given the evidence that was lost early on, doomed from the very beginning? I told her I didn't I didn't want to go. There was no reaction until the dog reached Paul Flores's room. Through the years, the Smarts have kept pressure on the Flores family. Some of those women who did not want their real names used told Lambert about their encounters with him. DAN DOW [press conference]: We intend to use evidence of other sexual crimes in this prosecution to prove the facts necessary for the attempted rape in this case. Cole said that Ruben then clarified that he meant he was the only one of the three to have been arrested. Chris Lambert: There was a man climbing her trellis and trying to get inside her balcony, very intoxicated and refusing to leave. The last person to see her alive,. Jonathan Vigliotti: They thought she was off possibly having fun. In a civil lawsuit, the Smarts' attorney claims that Kristin's remains were buried at one time on Paul Flores' father's property. The trial got underway with opening statements on July 18 in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas. Susan's house was finally searched in March 1997 nine months after Kristin disappeared but nothing was found. But now, 25 years later, a man sits in a San Luis Obispo County Jail cell, charged with her murder. After over 25 years, there is no evidence that Paul Flores committed the crimes for which there is no evidence.. To declare to the public if you stay quiet, you will get away with this. The document said investigators at the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department had biological evidence indicating Smart was once buried under Ruben Flores' deck behind his home in nearby Arroyo Grande. But to fully understand Chris Lambert's contribution, you have to go back to the beginning. Jonathan Vigliotti: How did you know she hadn't been back? A lot of women felt uncomfortable around him, Flemming says. D.A. He said a backhoe had excavated a trench to dump soil that was removed to lay a nearby foundation. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 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. But it's Susan Flores's concrete backyard that initially received a lot of attention. And I was like, "nah, I have to study." Smart's body was recently moved from the home of Ruben Flores, a prosecutor said. These charges mark a major milestone, Dow says in a statement. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. Alicia Tejada is the field producer and Addison Briley is the associate producer. Margarita Campos: they were, like, "are you sure she didn't go out of town?" 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. 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. So, I said, "you better turn some lights on right now and let me out or I'm going to scream." Paul Flores did not have a car on campus, so Murphy surmises he had to have had help. Cole said a search of it revealed "suspicious activity.". Mesick declined to comment Tuesday, citing the gag order. And she was growing as an individual. On day two, August 3rd, a close friend of Smarts from college, Steven Flemming, tells the court that Flores had interacted with Smart before the party they both attended prior to her disappearance. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Nineteen-year-old Cal Poly student Kristin Smart went missing after a campus party 25. Four months later, while attempting to reconcile, Susan rented out her house in Arroyo Grande. The hearing began August 2 and is expected to last into at least next week. But cadaver dogs told a different story. Three more witnesses are expected to take the stand on Thursday, including two cadaver dog handlers.___. 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. Nineteen-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of 1996. The authorities began to describe Paul Flores as a prime suspect in the case. He later told investigators that he walked her as far as his dorm, where they parted ways. James Murphy and Garin Sinclair look at the billboard that has been in their front yard for more than two decades. They didn't bring a forensics team. The prosecution upholds the validity of these searches, including one of Flores dorm room that was done after he moved out. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Another frustration for the Smarts: at the time Kristin disappeared, investigators weren't aware that Paul Flores's parents were separated and living apart. Cole said this was done so Lambert would include the information in his podcast during the time of the wiretap. James Murphy: Every day. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. but I knew that I could try to do a small part. James Murphy: They're interested in seeing Paul Flores get convicted and Ruben Flores get held accountable. Cole also talked about his interview with Jennifer Hudson in November 2019. It was on Memorial Day weekend 1996 that their 19-year-old daughter Kristin Smart disappeared. But Mary Lassiter says the earring matched the necklace Kristin is seen wearing on the billboard. The investigation seemed to be hampered from the start by a series of missteps by campus police beginning with their assumption that Kristin was off having fun and ignoring worried friends who said she was missing. He says they are Ruben's ex-wife Susan and her boyfriend. Cole said investigators checked out the skateboard ramp location but did not find a body. The Smarts say they tried to file a missing person's report with the local police but were told it was too early, and the FBI told them Cal Poly police were in charge. Peuvrelle, who said Ruben Flores has helped cover up the crime for nearly a quarter-century, would continue to do so if freed. Det. Chris Lambert: At that point I don't think they had ever dealt with a missing person, a possibly murdered person. Lindsey Smart Stewart: Right. Kristin Smart, a bright, adventurous communication studies freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, went missing May 25, 1996. Anyone can read what you share. It was turned over to a detective with the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office, but Garin Sinclair says, the Smarts never knew it existed until the Lassiters were deposed in January 1997. Im not going to exclude a member of the media (for doing their job).. He discussed some of the evidence that was collected during searches of the property, including anomalies in the backyard and a 4-foot deep hole under the deck containing fibers and human blood. Just weeks later, Kristin's frustrated parents contacted James Murphy, a local civil attorney. 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. 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. Even though he'd never investigated anything before, Lambert quit his job to create a podcast about the case. to find the next challenge. She didn't think that was OK. Early on, a small group of volunteers also looked for Kristin. The day after my sister disappeared, Paul Flores had a black eye and scratches on him. It did produce some information that I believe was valuable, he said. Prior to the arrests, in February 2020, Flores home, his parents home, and his sisters home were searched by police. 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. Authorities also uncovered fibers consistent with the color clothing Smart was last seen wearing. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. and offers to help. 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. It is every parent's worst nightmare. PODCAST EPISODE 2: So, with Cheryl's account alone, we have an unsettling picture of Paul . Chris Lambert was just 8 years old when Kristin Smart vanished on her way home from a college party in San Luis Obispo, California. were in the room exactly where she had left them. Chris Lambert: Everything else, he took the Fifth Amendment. He later argued that the biological evidence found under the deck was not conclusively human blood. In 1997 when Paul Flores was deposed for the civil suit, the only thing he would confirm on tape was his name. every piece of evidence points directly at Paul Flores. And they told Lambert they weren't surprised when they heard about Flores's connection to Kristin's disappearance. 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? They had become close friends despite their differences. She was gone. 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. Her dorm entrance is right over here. An earring that appeared to match the necklace Kristin is wearing on the billboard. Kristen was in her first year at Cal Poly when she vanished in 1996. It was first reported by The Tribune, and a reporter posted snippets of documents on Twitter. Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen rules that having the podcaster testify and release his records would have a chilling effect on the medias ability to do their job. Paul Flores, right, in court with his attorney Richard Hutton in 1996. Ms. Smart, who was from Stockton, Calif., was a freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. The podcast, "Your Own Backyard,"has drawn millions of listeners and focused renewed attention on this decades old case. 1 of 47. Testimony resumes at the Kristin Smart hearing after a week off. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. RUBEN FLORES: [long pause] We never asked that question. I didnt understand why. They're known for being a really safe school.". DAN DOW [press conference]: But the allegation that he was committing or attempting to commit a rape when he killed her, is the basis for which we are able to file first-degree felony murder charges. According to a county probation bail report obtained by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, "biological evidence" was found under Ruben's deck. And might have connected Kristin to Susan Flores's house, says James Murphy. She was last seen in the Lands End area of San Francisco, close to where Laci and Connor washed up. In October 2022, Paul Flores, the man long suspected in her disappearance, was found guilty of murder. Everyone knew Paul (Flores) was creepy. 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.". Chris Lambert says they're cautiously optimistic. Chris Lambert: I remember seeing it on the news it was something scary and they were talking about it pretty regularly. A separate jury for Ruben Flores started deliberating on Oct. 5. I was afraid Id end up missing or buried someplace, she says. There's no question about it. For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. "Should he be allowed bail, it is a virtual certainty that he would use his freedom to continue his attempts to help Paul Flores thwart prosecution in this case and continue to hide her remains.. He was required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. After a lengthy hearing, San Luis Obispo County Judge Craig B. Ann-Marie Christian: became friends with Kristin in elementary school. 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. The body of Kristin Smart, which has never been found, was recently moved from the home of Ruben Flores, a prosecutor said, according to a document filed Monday and posted on social media by a. Kristen has never been found. The two are charged in connection with the death of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart. It's, like, she has nothing on her. Jonathan Vigliotti [with Lambert outside of the the dorms]: Paul and Kristin then make their way here. Jonathan Vigliotti: How significant was that? Five months after Kristin Smart disappeared, Paul Flores was brought before a grand jury but no charges were ever filed. In his complaint, Murphy alleges, along with Ruben, there were two other unnamed individuals. Lambert also interviewed a woman who dated Flores until, she says, he became physically and verbally abusive. PODCAST EPISODE 3: Something shiny catches her eye next to the front driver side tire. Chadwell answered no. Paul Flores is charged with the murder of Kristin Smart, who disappeared from Cal Poly in 1996. That warrant allowed them to dig up the backyard, but deputies chose not to excavate. PAUL FLORES: On the advice of my attorney . On Monday, June 23rd, 1997, she arrived for work at the Crocker Galleria mall. Produced by Lisa Freed. KSBY will have more on what takes place in court on KSBY.com and KSBY News at 5 and 6 p.m. 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. Paul Flores pleads not guilty to the murder and attempted rape of Smart. ORIGINAL STORY - Paul and Ruben Flores are back in court Wednesday for another day of their preliminary hearing. Classes were difficult, she was trying to fit in, and she missed her family. JAMES MURPHY: Your husband have information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? Clockwise from left, Kristin, Denise, Stan, Matt and Lindsey. All Rights reserved. The judge in the case has issued a gag order preventing lawyers, investigators, witnesses and others from speaking about the case or releasing documents. Her younger sister Lindsey says their mother urged Kristin to go there. Smart was talking with and socializing with several different males at the party. Previously sealed documents related to the case become available to the public that explain the rape charges Peurelle attempted to add against Paul Flores. What Chris did was take a local story and turn it into an international story. Murphy immediately filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Flores in civil court. DAN DOW [press conference]: We have evidence that we do believe there are other people that are not yet identified that have had some kind of a criminal act perpetrated on them by Mr. Flores. Her parents, Denise and Stan were both educators who encouraged their kids' passions. Cadaver dogs were sent into Paul Floress dorm room. I need you to listen to everything they say so we can punch holes in it. They also did not focus on Paul Flores immediately, waiting six days to formally interview him. Please come with me." Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo), via Associated Press. Paul and Ruben Flores appear at the San Luis Obispo Superior Court for the first time, at which time Judge Craig van Rooyen denies Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelles request to add two rape charges against Paul, according to The Tribune of San Luis Obispo. Case A trailer was reportedly parked at Ruben's residence at odd hours and Paul's mother, Susan Flores, and her boyfriend were there. The two girls walked to an area off campus where there were fraternities, sororities and residential housing for students. Chris Lambert: He told those friends he just woke up with the black eye. In 2011, the Smarts hoped those boulders would become a little lighter when Ian Parkinson became the . He says "no.". Denise Pearce | Longtime family friend: Things were gonna get better and, you know, and and they did. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of evidence that could have been gathered, that wasn't. suddenly major pieces of evidence came forward. And so, she pulled me into this sort of like, "oh come on, let's socialize. She said she didn't tell law enforcement about it until she talked to Det. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Mesick argued there were many innocent explanations why soil had previously been dug up in the yard. 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. Lindsey Smart Stewart: It just amazes me the amount of evidence that's available, yet nothing has happened. And according to that probation report, "dozens of women have recounted Paul Flores' sexual assaults and predatory behavior that document his 25 years as a serial rapist." He says Smart seemed uncomfortable but was too nice to ask the boy to leave. Also on the stand Tuesday were another cadaver dog handler, an expert in fiber evidence and a district attorney's office investigator. Chris Lambert: It's hard to take too much credit But I was one piece of the puzzle that helped to make this all come together when it did. By the time they called the Cal Poly campus police, Kristin had been missing for more than 48 hours. Cole also testified that the Flores family was wiretapped for 30 days starting on January 5, 2020. Margarita Campos: I was expecting her to knock on my door and be, like, "Oh, Margarita, you missed a rager. Kristin Smart went missing on May 25, 1996 while attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and has not been heard from since. But a massive search did not happen until she'd been gone for more than a month. James Murphy: Well, the location where all this activity occurred is where they found the biological material. Griffin Cherry was her close friend: ", 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.".
James O Brien House Chiswick,
When Does Mn Legislative Session End 2022,
Articles K