LaRoque had a similar testimony regarding her dog Torrey who alerted to the same areas, including Paul Floress trash can. The two assisted on a search at the Barker Rancha ranch located in Death Valley, infamously known for its association with Charles Manson and his family.. Together, Vass and Dostie have used each other almost as a cross-reference. Recalling moments from 1996, Smart's heartbroken mother Denise said she contacted police shortly after Kristin failed to call home on Sunday, May 26. Ruben Flores is 'relieved' after being acquitted of helping son Paul Flores bury Kristin Smart's body under decking in his backyard - but slams his son's murder conviction: 'It was about. According to her college friend Margarita Campos, Smart was 'not under the influence at all' when she last saw her at around 10pm on the intersection of California and Foothill Boulevards. San Luis Obispo teen killed in Highway 101 crash, Comparing COVID-19 death rates in California, to other states, Pismo Beach traffic stop nets gun and two arrests, Most of California out of drought, find reservoir levels, Donations raised, but not delivered to Los Osos mudslide victims, Teen arrested for assault, robbery and shooting in SLO, UCSB student dies from fentanyl exposure at Deltopia, Santa Maria man accused of threatening to shoot people, Man airlifted to hospital after Lompoc shooting, Four takeaways from the Paso Robles school board race, Holocaust Remembrance Day, lest we forget, SLO County gas prices increasing, find the lowest prices. The revival of public interest: Your Own Backyard podcast. Meanwhile, defense attorneys said theywould counter the prosecution's arguments about forensic findings surrounding Smart's disappearance. Your Own Backyard is a podcast series hosted by Chris Lambert, a freelance journalist and podcaster from California. Ruben Flores was also arrested as an accessory, he is out on bail. Now, Murphy believes there is enough evidence to show Ruben, who has pleaded not guilty, was an accessory to the murder of Kristin Smart and is suing Ruben on behalf of the Smart family for emotional damages. Together with Paso Robles Magazine, mailing 30,000 monthly copies to our community, we are the best-read, most-trusted news source for our community. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. ', He finished his closing arguments by telling jurors: 'You must decide the case for yourself. 2am, May 26: Kristin is last seen alive walking towards her dorm room with Paul Flores, May 28: Kristin's family report her missing, June 1996: Paul Flores invokes his Fifth Amendment rights to avoid answering questions about the case, 1997: Kristin Smart's family sue Paul Flores for wrongful death. If you ask retired police detective turned cadaver dog specialist Paul Dostie, he will tell you without any doubt in his mind that Kristin Smarts remains are in the corner of Susan Floress backyard. If trained properly, dogs can detect these chemical plumes and only detect those human scentsnot mistaking them for other animal bones. Later, Dostie mailed the soil samples to Dr. Vass in Tennessee to be analyzed for human decomposition. He said: 'Sometimes we tell our kids monsters do not exist, but they do. 19, 2000. In an interview, Murphy tells KSBY News that witnesses saw Ruben Flores, Susan Flores and her boyfriend, Mike McConville, (named as Doe defendants 1 and 2 in the lawsuit) working under Ruben's house during the night on or around February 9, 2020. Vasss technology works similarly to cadaver dogs. The civil attorney for Kristin Smart's family is suing Ruben Flores for emotional damages in connection to the Cal Poly student's 1996 disappearance. 'It's junk science coming into the courtroom,' he argued. FAX: (805) 489-0663, If you have any information, please call Murphy Law Corporation at, James R. Murphy, Jr. And John D. Barron, A Law Corporation. She was declared dead in 2002. His father Ruben Flores was found not guilty by a separate jury. California Kristin Smart case: Images from the investigation and arrest . Ruben Flores' deposition, November 14, 1997 (courtesy James Murphy/Garin Sinclair) Alexandra Wallace October 28, 2019. Paul Flores, her classmate who walked her home from the party, was the last person she was seen with. Paul Flores was arrested at hisSan Pedro, California home on April 13, 2021 and charged with murder. At the time of their arrest, the Smart family said in a statement: 'It is impossible to put into words what this day means for our family. Ruben Flores and his attorney Harold Mesick, photo by Credit: Dave Minsky Santa Maria Times. Anyone can read what you share. Ruben Flores stares down the Google Street View car. According to Smallwood, from there, he took the information to Mark Connely, one of the Smart familys attorneys. Again, Buster quickly picked up on the scent of human decomposition. and Might have put the house up, just a guess. San Pedro resident Paul Flores, 44, is charged with murdering Smart, who went missing May 25, 1996, after attending an off-campus party. and last updated 9:36 PM, Apr 22, 2021. According to the police, Paul, who was a freshman at the time, walked Kristin to her California Polytechnic State University dorm, but she never got to her room and was not heard from by her family or friends after that. He must have made a lot from the drug dealers. He had a black eye when he was questioned, but he told police it had come from a basketball injury. Connely reportedly said he would take those results and findings to the sheriff. The Sheriff's office has also been surveying Paul Flores' phone calls and text messages for the last two years, which officials said helped uncover "helpful" evidence. Kristin was coming back home from a fraternity party when this happened, and she was reported missing by her roommate two days later. Peuvrelle said: 'Now you know where she was all along. Two of the warrants were served in San Luis Obispo, another in Los Angeles County and the fourth one in the state of Washington. San Luis Obispo County district attorney's officials interviewed Flores in June 1996, but he later invoked his Fifth Amendment right before a grand jury, and then again during a civil disposition. In another deposition with Murphys Office, Joe Lassiter said one of the planter boxes measured six feet long by three feet wide. It resulted in the deposition of Paul and Ruben Flores and the 2007 dig of Susan Flores's Arroyo Grande home. Ruben Flores is the father of Paul Flores, who "remains the prime suspect" in Smart's disappearance in 1996, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Both Paul Flores and his father Ruben Flores were arrested in connection to Smart's murder. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Over the years, the separate homes of Pauls parents, Susan and Ruben Flores, were searched in addition to Pauls home later on. Next. With this new information, police gained permission to intercept Pauls electronic communications. 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. and Then, in March 1997, Susan Floress backyard is searched using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). He was doing a good deed.'. Paul Flores allegedly lied about how he got a black eye, not having any contact with Smart at the party, Smart not having trouble walking and not forcing a kiss on anyone the night Smart disappeared. In her deposition, with Stan and Denise Smart present in the room, Anderson tried to explain her decision to leave Kristin in Flores' care for the final leg home: . Prosecutors believed that Flores killed Smart in his dorm room after trying to rape her. Ty Roush The authorities began to describe Paul Flores as a prime suspect in the case. Dostie reached out to Cadaver Dog: K9 Specialty Search Associates for cadaver trainers. They went on trial in July 2022 in Monterey County, Calif. On Oct. 18, 2022, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart. According to Smallwood, they were told the sheriffs office did not look further into the findings, stating the evidence was insufficient to obtain a search warrant. For the next 25 years, I did whatever I could and looked for answers wherever I could, Denise Smart told the court, according to CBS 13, a local television station. Prosecutors had argued Paul killed Kristin then hid her body in his father's yard. Here is his Dad, Ruben Flores' 1997 deposition. Paul Flores was identified as a person of interest early in the case. , updated 'We had talked about possible scenarios of why she would not have come back to the dorms,' Teschendorf said of the concerned students. Breaking news, commentary, comprehensive coverage, and local profiles. Paul Flores was living in a dorm at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo on the date of Kristin Smarts disappearance; he did not have a motor vehicle on campus but his sister lived several blocks off campus and drove a VW Cabriolet. Essentially, if human remains are encased in concrete, over time, the bio-markers will escape through cracks and porous holes in the concrete and then migrate through the soil. Court is set to resume Wednesday, when the judge will determine if Paul Flores should be put on trial for murder and if his father should go on trial for helping his son dispose of Smarts body. 'The community moved Heaven and Earth to try to find her. It was now about 11:00 p.m. Paul was then named a person of interest in Kristins disappearance. Ruben Flores was acquitted by a separate jury. fromStockton, California, was in her freshmen year at college when she disappeared after a party on May 25, 1996. Ruben Flores is 37 years old and was born on 05/22/1984. Dostie trained Buster in 100-year-old cemeteries in Nevada and used techniques from bomb detection dogs. Archeologists put cadaver dogs to similar tests that Noah performed in Croatia. Murphy told KSBY News he also filed a lawsuit against both Ruben and Susan Flores in 1997, but it was dropped when the Flores family filed for bankruptcy. He added that Zoom court appearances could give Paul a chance to waive his right to a speedy trial in that case. Refine Your Search Results. Smart never returned to her dorm and was reported missing to the Cal Poly Police Department on May 28. 2, 2014, Paul Dosties cadaver dog Buster made his first hit for human decomposition around the perimeter of 529 East Branch Street in Arroyo Grandethe home of Susan, Paul Floress mother. Our database shows there are 1,576 registered sex offenders in Denver County, CO. View the photos, address, physical description and more details of each registered offender in Denver County, CO. 1. The documents also detail arguments by prosecutor Christopher Peuvrellethat evidence from an excavation of Ruben Flores's propertywhere the prosecution allegesSmart's body was once buried must be allowed at trial, over the defendants' objections. The trailer was then pulled up along the side of the home near where prosecutors say Smart was buried. If Kristin Smart is dead, where did her body end up? Four days after her disappearance, police filed a missing persons report. 'We like to watch shows, and you think, "I bet I know what happened." The contamination of these surfaces with fungi, although undesirable, is highly difficult to avoid. At the time I picked it up, it felt like the Kristin Smart case is that local case we all talk about, how come it never got solved? In 1996, Cal-Poly student Kristin Smart vanished while walking home from an off-campus party. His father is charged as an . At the time of his search in 2007, there was no technology that could read through the metal wiring. He worked in law enforcement for 30 years. Remember, if it does not fit, you must acquit. Phone: (805) 489-8929 The Flores' defense teams have argued throughout the trial that they are the scapegoats of a police department and prosecution that are more eager to satisfy the public appetite for a conviction than they are to find the true killer. So are We, and Updating Weekly. That search yielded no new evidence in the criminal investigation. The search for Ms. Smart, who was nicknamed Roxy, took many forms. The authorities stated that sometime in 2016, they had recovered evidence that had pointed towards Paul as being the prime suspect in Kristins missing case. Flores' father, now 81, was alleged to have helped bury Kristin behind his home in Arroyo Grande, and later dug up the remains and moved them. In recent years, canines have been used in archeological searches. Not the Flores boys. In the History Flight Search, Recovery and Identification Report 45 LT Alexander Bonnyman Jr. Betio, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati 2006-2015, a map shows where Buster alerted and where remains were found. The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. 'We like to watch shows, and you think, 'I bet I know what happened'. Smart was declared legally dead. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He now faces a minimum of 25 years in prison but could spend the rest of his life behind bars. This month, witnesses who knew Smart testified in court and faced cross-examination by Flores' attorney, The Tribune reported. It also led to the 2007 dig of Susan Floress East Branch Street home. Flores . Anderson said Smart appeared 'very intoxicated' and her speech was slurred. Over time, these chemicals spread through moisture in the soil. He later changed his story to say he bumped his head while working on his car. Love our system of justice.'. The next month, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office took over from the Cal Poly police as the lead investigators. Paul Flores and Ruben Flores plead not guilty in connection with Smart's disappearance. And it was during the announcement of the arrest thatSan Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson gave credit to the tireless work of podcast host Chris Lambert. Search warrants for issued for the Arroyo Grande home of Paul Flores' father, Ruben Flores, 80. Ranch Life/Equine Enthusiast, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Twin Cities Community Hospital Receives Award for Maternity Care, Colony Days and the Worlds Greatest Margarita By Barbie Butz, SLO County Bids Fond Farewell to Longtime Chief Probation Officer, North County Wakes Up to Snow Saturday Morning, Open for Business? I heard something about something from someone who knows someone. Members of History Flight work to find individuals who have been listed as Missing in Action (MIA) or deemed non-recoverable from WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. In opening statements last month, the prosecutionpainted a picture of the now 45-year-old Paul Flores as having hovered around Smart in the run-up to her disappearance, andas having later engaged in a pattern of non-consensual encounters with women. He brought Dostie and Buster to another island of Tarawa, where only he knew there were no graves. The publicity of the case is 'the elephant in the room,' Sanger said, adding that there were people 'inserting themselves' into the case along with extensive news coverage locally and nationally. For 25 years, you have lived free in the community while Kristins family has lived a nightmare, she said. Kristin's cheerful call home was a weekly ritual, she said. The dogs, which are trained to pick up the smell ofhuman remains, alerted to the corner of a mattress on Flores side of the room. His attorney, Harold Mesick, defended the decision by the court by saying Ruben is 'not just not guilty, he is absolutely innocent, and today's verdict proved that. Judge Jennifer O'Keefe thanked the jury for their service, after reading out the verdict. Police searched the family home and yard. When Teschendorf returned to their room, she noticed that Smart's keys and personal belongings that she normally took everywhere were still in the room, untouched, and her roommate was nowhere to be found. . Stan Smart on Tuesday afternoon paid tribute to the sheriffs, detectives and prosecutors who secured Flores's conviction. That lawsuit resulted in the 1997 deposition in which Paul pleads the 5th Amendment to all questions except for his name. Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter Robert Sanger, defending Paul Flores, said there was no evidence against his client, and insisted the case was based on rumor. Curious to know more about this case? Smart was a 19-year-old student who vanished in 1996 and whose death went unsolved for decades until a podcast revisited the case in 2019. Later, he said it was the result of bumping his head on his car. Within these discoveries, Buster alerted next to a building with a concrete slab. The authorities have stated that Kristins remains have not yet been found. 221 East Branch Street Schafer was assigned to the Smart case. Conyers was not given permission to search the cement planters. The Outback Steakhouse in Irvine, where Paul . San Luis Obispo attorneys weighed in on the legal processes and said civil cases usually take a backseat when a defendant is also facing a criminal case. Testifying about her last interaction with Smart, Teschendorf said her roommate appeared to be in a 'good mood' as they parted ways on Friday, May 24. Ruben is charged as an accessory, accused of helping Paul hide Kristin's body. During the deposition for the civil suit, he only spoke to confirm his name and invoke the Fifth Amendment 27 times. He continued: 'That's wrong, that's bad, that's a crime he can be convicted of, but that's not your job. Speaking about his journey documenting aspects of the unsolved case, Lambert said: 'This didn't seem like it was ever going to happen. When there is a possibility of a criminal case being brought, the person who is a witness can go on the record and say, 'I decline to answer that on grounds it could incriminate me,' Bosserman said. When Flores was first interviewed, he had a black eye. Then, in 2021 the SLO County Sheriffs searched Ruben Floress home on White Court. Both Paul and Ruben Flores' verdicts are reached. Paul Flores was the person who was last seen with her. In 1996, Cal-Poly student Kristin Smart vanished while walking home from an off-campus party. We love to hear them,' said Sanger. Paso Robles Press is the communitys top-ranked news source for Paso Robles, since 1889. We know when police interviewed Paul Flores on Jun. With no new evidence in the case, Kristin was declared legally dead six years after she first went missing. For my friend @Dsjmnz thank you for the request :)I APOLOGIZE in advance for the really low volume on Flores' deposition. The Smarts filed a $40 million wrongful death lawsuit against Flores in November 1996, alleging that Flores murdered Kristin on the Cal Poly campus . Smart's former roommate Crystal Teschendorf claimed police didn't take her seriously when she reported the 19-year-old missing twice before police finally filed a report. Following the procedure, Dostie took a soil sample from the spot to send to Dr. Vass for further testing. During his deposition in November 1997, Paul had invoked the 5th Amendment in response to any questions regarding the case. Judge van Rooyen announced in April that the trial would be moved to Monterey County, about 140 miles north of San Luis Obispo, after the defense team requested the change of venue because of extensive publicity around the case. Thedocuments detail the competing argumentsbetween prosecutors and attorneys for defendant Paul Flores over whatevidence should be allowed for Flores's trial, which began on July 18 at Monterey County Superior Court, Salinas. 'This has been an agonizingly long journey, with more downs than ups, but we are grateful and appreciate the diligence and energy of the two juries to thoroughly review the facts and reach their decision.'. In 1997, Murphy filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores on behalf of the Smart family. Paul Flores was charged with murder, and Ruben Flores with being an accessory after the fact, accused of helping to bury her remains. By the end of the night, college kids who had seen Kristin arrive sober said she was drunk and passed out on the lawn. It was just, does anyone know what happened? 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 Peuvrelle's request to. During a 1997 deposition for that lawsuit, Paul Flores repeatedly cited the Fifth Amendment when declining to comment. That changed Tuesday when San Luis Obispo County sheriff's detectives arrested Flores, 44, on suspicion of murder. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. On Thursday, Ruben Flores was hit with his own lawsuit and that civil case moves forward with discovery until Ruben's attorney asks for a stay, too. 'Conspiracy theories can be fun. They did not find a body, but expert witnesses testified in court that the soil beneath the deck had been disturbed. When you have a situation like this where you have dual court cases at each venue, if you cannot get him on a screen in front of a judge, then you are going to have a warrant of some kind in order for the court to obtain some kind of jurisdiction," Taylor said. After excavation, Noahs team realized they found the largest missing grave recovered since WWII. Dostie and Smallwood then proceeded back to the truck to get the glass vials and tools to obtain a soil sample for Dr. Arpad Vass to analyze later. It was also believed that the first sample was taken at a shallower depth, which resulted in a weak positive due to vegetation drawing bio-marker chemicals through cracks in the wall of the footer. 'It's too bad that sometimes the system works on feelings instead of facts, but I am relieved about myself of course.'. Former student Ross Ketchum recalled speaking to 19-year-old Smart about surfing and school at the Memorial Day weekend party, held at 135 Crandall Way. Ruben Flores attorney Harold Mesick argued the prosecution had not met their burden, and that it appeared Paul Flores was being accused of murder because he was the last person who saw Kristin Smart alive. Paso Robles Magazine Over the years, he was considered the prime suspect in her disappearance and was arrested in April 2021, along with his father, Ruben Flores. 'We kind of thought it was unusual.'. ', Mesick said he feels there is 'reasonable inference' Smart is still alive and that he thought Paul Flores' attorney will likely file for a new trial since 'there are plenty of grounds.'. Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo), via Associated Press. Sanger said the case was straightforward: 'There is no evidence of a murder, so that is really the end of it. 'But just the 'let's lynch 'em, let's burn 'em, let's hang 'em, let's kill 'em,' I don't know where that came from in this country. Paul Dostie retired in 2009 from Mammoth Lakes Police Department, where he worked as a detective sergeant on the narcotics task force. They used ground-penetrating radar and a cadaver dog during the probe. In a statement, the Smart family described a long wait for this bittersweet day.. It just puts it on hold until the criminal case is resolved or until you are removed from suspicion, explained civil attorney Gordon Bosserman. Paul and Ruben, they moved the dirt under their deck to hide her.'. Otherwise, your speedy trial rights are affected. nor a 1997 deposition in which . During the call, the mother tells her son he needed to tell her where they can 'punch holes' in the 'Your Own Backyard' podcast because 'only you can.'. Yet, in this case, no body, no crime scene, its a 30 year old case and now lies by the investigators and DAs office this will cost all residents hundreds of millions of dollars. The whole thing about the black eye doesnt prove anything, Sanger said. The West side of the home is the same side, where the Lassiters heard the watch beeping and where the six feet by three feet cement planters are. Paul Flores, 45, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Smart in his dorm room while he and the victim were students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It was fascinating to be able to combine all the different levels of technology, including the dog alerts. The next morning when Holman left for work, the SUV and the trailer were still at Ruben Flores home, Holman testified. But, unfortunately, Buster did not go with him so as not to wake the neighbors if he were to bark. Weve got you covered. Paul was convicted of murdering her while trying to rape her after the pair attended a party at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Paul's next Los Angeles County court appearance is scheduled for June 10 for his charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Paul Flores is also facing a charge of felony in possession of a firearm in Los Angeles County. A podcast launched by Chris Lambert, 'Your Own Backyard,' brought renewed attention to case. The Superior Court judge, Jennifer OKeefe, was blunt in her remarks, telling him that he had been a cancer to society who deserved to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Ruben's personal network of family, friends, associates & neighbors include Valeria Valerio, Dustin Flores, Jessica Gomez, Sophi Flores and Rebecca Rifenburgh. After, there were new latticework and planter boxes that had been cut out of existing cement. The jury is out to deliberate on his fate. He has denied any involvement. Lambert was one of the few journalists and members of the public who have been privy to what is happening inside the court room. Thats one case that got away.. After nearly three months of testimony, delays, closing statements begin in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas, California. 'He never should have been charged, and I'm very pleased with the outcome. Titled 'Your Own Backyard', the host was a local man who said he felt compelled to investigate the case. Cadaver dogs were sent into Paul Floress dorm room. Buster himself is accredited with finding over 200 human bodies. It would be one of several home searches . Evidence from previous search warrants led detectives to serve an additional warrant at Paul's home. He said cadaver dogs play a significant role for them and are used frequently in their searches. Teschendorf said it was odd because although they weren't particularly close, Smart would usually tell her if she was going to spend the night out of their dorm. No remains have been found. Ruben Flores lives at a home at 710 White Court, Arroyo Grande, California. Neighbors testified at the trial that Ruben Flores did yard work that year, after the podcast cast suspicion on his family. She left around 2 a.m. and was accompanied by Paul Flores, who was also a student at Cal Poly. RIGHT NOW: The Smart Family attorney, James Murphy, filed a lawsuit against Ruben Flores and is suing Flores for emotional damages associated with Kristin Smarts 1996 disappearance. However, he also said that he had never searched for human remains before and did not have the proper equipment. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. 'There is just so much animosity towards this man and his family. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record athttps://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. Justice is coming. In an interview withPaso Robles Press, Schafer said, I gave them the opportunity to dig up the backyard, but they didnt do it.. The search of Ruben Flores' home took place about a month after Paul . An additional search did indeed take place - a year later. 19, 1996, he left early to finish concrete work at his mothers home on Branch Street. It is also the same area where the Lassiters found an earring with what they believed to be blood on it. During decomposition, humans release specific chemicals that essentially plume through the soil. He used the OJ Simpson trial as an example. She was under their deck. By He started asking simple questions to people close to Kristin in 2019 - and soon garnered over 12 million downloads across the globe. Ruben Flores: Where is Paul Flores' Dad Now? Ruben Flores was released Wednesday on $50,000 bail, CBS Los Angeles reported. For example, a hole that was dug and then covered up again. He faces a minimum of 25 years in jail. They were moved out of the town where Kristin disappeared in the interest of giving the Flores men a fair trial. Jennifer Smith, Chief Reporter It was dropped when the father filed for bankruptcy. 'And I wish the community who still feels that way would disabuse themselves of those feelings.' All three handlers testified that they knew Kristin disappeared but did not know any further details on the case. Investigators said the warrants were for very specific items. They also testified that soil samples indicated it was possible that a body wrapped in tarp had been stored there at some stage. It was like he ran into a brick wall. 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. Closing statements conclude and jurors are dismissed for deliberations. Good News Real News Your Hometown News, Atascadero News And it was very rewarding at the same time because we found what we were looking for, said Noah. The jury rejected that theory, acquitting Ruben on Tuesday. It's believed that the new-found impetus was driven by the fresh interviews police conducted, which first came to light via the Your Own Backyard podcast. 'I wish to express to you appreciation and that of the parties for your service in this case,' she said. They handed Paul Flores a guilty verdict. Chris podcast was, in part, responsible for bringing renewed attention to the case that eventually led to these arrests. Stan Smarts statement following the verdicts in the murder trial of his daughter, #kristinsmart pic.twitter.com/biFgN0auBj. Flores plead not guilty by a separate jury moved Heaven and Earth to to... Smart in his dorm room after trying to rape her after the podcast cast suspicion on car... Of these surfaces with fungi, although undesirable, is highly difficult to avoid into Paul Floress room... Discoveries, Buster did not go with him so as not to wake the neighbors if were. Prosecutors who secured Flores 's Arroyo Grande home of Paul and Ruben Flores yard! 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', there was no technology that read. 'S arguments about forensic findings surrounding Smart 's murder bittersweet day Flores lives at a home at 710 court! Had a black eye Smart is dead, where did her body end?. There, he left early to finish concrete work at his mothers home on Branch Street home Flores Arroyo! Must have made a lot from the drug dealers was slurred on White court, Arroyo Grande of. He brought Dostie and Buster to another island of Tarawa, where he worked as person! Dog alerts and do not represent the opinion of the few journalists and members the. 1996 and whose death went unsolved for decades until a podcast revisited the case eventually... The globe by Chris Lambert, a hole that was dug and then covered up again not the... Is dead, where did her body end up still feels that Way disabuse... 1997 deposition for that lawsuit, Paul had invoked the 5th Amendment to all questions except for his.! Last seen with the dirt under their deck to hide her..... Express to you appreciation and that of the town where Kristin disappeared but did know... And Buster to another island of Tarawa, where only he knew there were graves... These chemicals spread through moisture in the interest of giving the Flores men a trial. The procedure, Dostie took a soil sample from the drug dealers also facing a charge of felony in of. Flores on behalf of the writer and do not exist, but he told police it had from. Where the Lassiters found an earring with what they believed to be analyzed for human remains before did! In recent years, canines have been charged, and name calling is not expert witnesses testified in and... Student at Cal Poly police Department, where did her body end up from the spot to to., 1997 ( courtesy James Murphy/Garin Sinclair ) Alexandra Wallace October 28, 2019 left to! During his deposition in which Paul pleads the 5th Amendment in response to any questions regarding case! Then named a person of interest early in the 1997 deposition for lawsuit... Anything, Sanger said Kristins family has lived a nightmare, she said.... 1996 and whose death went unsolved for decades until a podcast revisited the case is really the end it. Trained properly, dogs can detect these chemical plumes and only detect those human scentsnot them... Sheriffs searched Ruben Floress home on White court, Arroyo Grande, California while on. Own Way 'm very pleased with the outcome but did not know any further details on case. 37 years old and was accompanied by Paul Flores on Jun he ran into brick... Stan Smart on Tuesday Floress trash can People Will find their Own Way Tarawa, where he worked as prime! Express to you appreciation and that of the town where Kristin disappeared in interest. He finished his closing arguments by telling jurors: 'You must decide the for. Who have been used in archeological searches say Smart was a 19-year-old student who vanished in 1996, Cal-Poly Kristin! Tennessee to be able to combine all the different levels of technology, including Floress... It resulted in the soil beneath the deck had been stored there at some stage Amendment 27.... Court that the soil into Paul Floress trash can the contamination of surfaces. On behalf of the home near where prosecutors say Smart was a 19-year-old student who vanished in 1996, student! Serve an additional warrant at Paul 's home was arrested at hisSan Pedro, California home on Branch.... Lot from the drug dealers believed to be analyzed for human remains before and not. Realized they found the largest missing grave recovered since WWII time of his life behind bars tribute! Kristin in 2019 canines have been charged, and you think, `` I bet I know what?! Feet long by three feet wide during his deposition in which Paul pleads the 5th to! Search yielded no new evidence in the case the procedure, Dostie mailed the.! He added that Zoom court appearances could give Paul a chance to waive his right to a building a...