I now know for sure he is, and Kristin is dead, and so do you.. The same day, investigators also served warrants at an undisclosed location in SLO County and at a location in Washington State. Recently released court documents detail a one-time immunity deal previously offered to Paul Flores' sister, Ermelinda Thomas. They used cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar to search Ruben Flores property. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Amanda Starrantino investigates where her missing person's case stands today. Flores sported the injury in his booking photo. Please, let the guilty be found, and her memory finally be at peace. Arroyo Grande High School graduate Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart on the night she disappeared. The first alleged incident occurred in 1994 when a woman accused Flores, then a high school sophomore is accused of drugging a raping a fellow student. The same day, investigators also served warrants at an undisclosed location in SLO County and at a location in Washington State. Wow! IF you knew your family member was out raping girls? Doesnt sound plausible. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Authorities dug up areas around the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, Paul Flores mother, in May 2007 but turned up no evidence of Smarts whereabouts, the Santa Maria Times reported. The Santa Maria Times reports that Flores has three DUI convictions on his record, as of 2007. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. Here are the latest totals, SLO driver who hit and killed couple charged with manslaughter, Suspect arrested in rural Arroyo Grande fatal shooting, San Luis Obispo County to close homeless parking site, Man flees officers in stolen CSD truck, barricades himself at Hearst Castle, San Luis Obispo debates allowing bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. The pair appeared in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. That was discovered after Flores turned himself in on a DUI charge. We know Paul is, there's evidence of such. One neighbor told the newspaper that Flores had been nothing but a good neighbor. The same report said that Flores grew up in Torrance, California. In documents filed June 18, 2021, Thomas attorney, Guy Galambos, filed a motion of notice in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court to quash a subpoena for Thomas testimony during the preliminary hearing for Paul and Rubens case that July. Paul Flores escorted Smart back to her dorm after an off-campus party. The others stayed local, same! Send your pictures, videos and tips to: Investigators are currently digging under Rubin Flores home in another apparent attempt to find the missing teens body. Its an ugly secret that made the Smart family unnecessarily agonize for nearly 25 years! She was last seen alive with Paul Flores, a classmate who offered to walk an inebriated Smart to her room. Is there indeed some kind of video with PF admitting he knows what happened? Very Sad .. About the case, Lambert said he feels good about the direction it is heading. She declined to comment to reporters. I think PF/RB used her car for something regarding Kristin - which is why they never got rid of it and it was just sitting in Ruben's garage. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Authorities served another search warrant at Paul Flores home in April 2020. Cal Poly student, Kristin Smart, went missing in 1996. 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. Deputies also dug in several places in search of remains. Ermelinda Flores (top left) and Paul Flores (bottom), 1983. . Man sentenced to three months in prison for shooting and killing elephant seal, Helios Dayspring opens marijuana shop in Morro Bay, Driver killed in single-vehicle crash on Highway 41 in Atascadero, How much rain has fallen on SLO County? Kristin Smart was declared legally dead in May 2002. While she told her parents to call her before she left, she never spoke to them. The 19-year-old was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm, which was relatively empty over the Memorial Day weekend. I find it weird there are practically 0 pictures of Ermelinda in comparison to the other members of her family, but maybe its because she moved? Investigators says Paul Flores' sister offered immunity during wiretap Before court broke for lunch, Cole also testified about a wiretap of the Flores family conducted by the Sheriff's Office in 2020. Paul Flores (44) and Ruben Flores (80) were taken into custody on April 13, 2021. On Tuesday, investigators used ground-penetrating radar under Rubin Flores home and in the backyard, and then dug in several places. This video shows the full deposition given by Paul Flores to the Smart family's attorney, James R. Murphy on November 14, 1997. My first impression was that she didnt have anything to do with it and that Chris was protecting her privacy. St. James Catholic School Christmas Party 1983. His father, Ruben, is facing a charge of accessory to murder. I dont have anything to offer other than the fact that if I were in Ermalindas shoes, I sure as hell wouldnt protect my brother if I thought he killed someone. Does Ruben have enough control/power to convince or compel everyone in his immediate orbit to protect his son and open themselves up to prosecution? The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday the new warrants included a search for specific items of evidence at four separate locations. Same. In Feb. 2020, sheriffs deputies served warrants at four locations, including at Paul Floress San Pedro home and the Arroyo Grande home of his mother. 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. If one of my brothers was a piece of shit like Paul I wouldnt stay silent and complicit.. How do you stay friends with someone like that?!!!!! Publicly available information confirms that Ermelinda left the state (and even the country at one point) to get away from this case. Paul Flores, 44, of San Pedro, was charged with murder, while his 80-year-old father faces a felony charge of being an accessory to a crime. At that time, the car belonged to Paul Flores sister Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. I may have missed it so some assistance will be appreciated. They state the detective was requesting an interview from Thomas while also giving her two letters: one urging her cooperation and another offering immunity from San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow in exchange for her cooperation. On May 25, 1996, Paul Flores was the last person known to have seen Kristin Smart before her disappearance from the Cal Poly campus. There is no doubt in my mind., Those sentiments were echoed by Denise Smart who told Fox40 in May 2018, Paul Flores is without question the perpetrator to this crime. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Kristin Smart investigation: A timeline of the Cal Poly student's disappearance, SLO Co. Sheriff confirms key pieces of evidence in Kristin Smart case, Conducting physical evidence searches at nine separate locations, A complete re-examination of every item of physical evidence seized by all agencies involved in this case, Submission of 37 evidence items from the early days of the case for modern DNA testing, Conducting 91 person to person interviews. Paul is charged with murder in connection with the 1996. At the time of Smarts disappearance, the vehicle belonged to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. We were outside and Susan Flores pulls up in red car and says to us Hows it going guys? We ask if she wants to talk to the media and this is her response. #KristinSmart @KSBY pic.twitter.com/vNwNdxkK4L. "Paul had this look on his face," the relative said. I always thought they used The sisters car to move the body from Pauls dorm and thats why she and Brett got married and never shared info. The parents stopped renewing the tags in 2010 and parked the Volkswagen in Rubin Flores garage. Do a little research before sharing your sage advice. Authorities arrested Ruben Flores after San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his Arroyo Grande home. Last month, deputies conducted a two-day search for Smarts remains at the home of Ruben Flores. You are right, I asked the question here trolling for an answer. Critics called. KSBY Investigates: Kristin Smart Disappearance. Hope this brings an end to all these years wondering where she was. Authorities allege that Flores instead took Smart to his own dorm room and killed. Thanks for sharing this. She was last seen alive with Paul Flores, a classmate who offered to walk an inebriated Smart to her room. 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. Cole states things have changed drastically due to advances in DNA technology, adding that evidence has been re-examined and vehicles belonging to Thomas and her family have been forensically searched. Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, spoke to California outlet KSBY News on Tuesday, marking her first-ever press interview. "As a result, we are precluded by law from disclosing any further details about them.". Cant blame her for wanting to get far away from the dysfunction. "In 2019, we interviewed several witnesses that had not been previously interviewed and some of that information came to light through the podcast that many of you are familiar with," he said. Nothing in this portion of the documents states Thomas accepted the offer of immunity or provided any information to authorities. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was . In another case, he was granted probation. Kristin Denise Smart (born February 20, 1977, legally presumed dead May 25, 2002) was an American woman who is presumed to have been abducted, raped, and killed at the end of her freshman year of college on the campus of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. She did not walk away and lose her life. Denise Smart said that she was told, Be ready. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm on May 25, 1996, which was relatively empty over the Memorial Day weekend. To the extent that he was forced to leave jobs because of the Smart family. Maybe she's just as awful as the rest of them, or maybe not. Hundreds gather in Arroyo Grande for vigil in honor of Kristin Smart, Hundreds of people gathered in the Arroyo Grande Village on Sunday evening: to remember Kristin Smart, a Cal Poly student who went missing in 1996. Flores faces a murder charge. Good question Ive often wondered that esp since her car could of been involved & other goss on here. She did not walk away and dig herself a grave. The letter from the DAs Office has similar wording about the immunity deal. They Stole her life .. God Help Us & The family .. I hate to make things any darker than they already are, but I truly wonder if Paul ever tried anything on her. That victim, named as Jane, told the website, The next thing I know is the cops telling me We cant do anything because [Paul] and his friend are saying she was drunk and it was consensual.. Approximately a dozen San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles county deputies descended Wednesday morning on the home of Paul Flores, a suspect in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart . While her body has never been found, Kristin was declared legally dead in 2002. BUT if she suspected anything she should have turned in her son. The two alleged culprits are being held at the San Luis Obispo County . I typically respect family sticking together through thick and thin, but this is just beyond that scope. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. After Smarts disappearance, the car was transferred into their parents names. The SLO County Sheriffs Office will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the case. "Even with what I found, I can't go arrest somebody. Susan Flores reportedly told a co-worker (who is interviewed in Your Own Backyard) that Ruben was violently abusive. Flores removed most of his personal belongings from his dorm room before it was ever searched by the police. Facebook 0 Twitter LinkedIn 0 Reddit Tumblr Pinterest 0 0 Likes. Heres hoping that the truth about what that dirtbag and his dad did comes out and Kristin gets the justice she deserves. Support local news. It would seem like they would try to get rid of any vehicle that had evidence in it. Flores has no criminal record involving violent crime. The 19-year-old was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm, which was relatively empty over the Memorial Day weekend. His parents have been covering for him his whole life. Could answers be coming in Kristin Smarts disappearance? Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. The documents include information about a January 2020 appearance from a San Luis Obispo County sheriffs detective at Thomas Washington home. Police questioned Flores but over the years he was never charged and remained mum about the case, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent when he was deposed in a 2005 wrongful death civil suit brought against him by Smart's parents, which they subsequently dropped. At the time of Smart's disappearance, the vehicle belonged to Paul Flores' sister, Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. Paul Flores was the last person with Kristin Smart. Getty Lambert said, The biggest mistake I think the sheriffs department made was that the first sheriff commented within one year of investigating that if (Flores) didnt talk they would never be able to solve this. Paul Flores, Smart's former university classmate, was the last known person to see her alive after volunteering to walk her home in her inebriated state from the party, police have said. The report said, citing police records, that Flores had a black eye on the day after Smarts disappearance. 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. It was just a matter of the way the machinery works. The Smart family had no comment Wednesday. We are encouraged by the news of todays search of Ruben Flores property. Smarts family said in a statement they released on Monday. 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. Do you have a point you would like to make? My personal opinion was that I was one piece of the formula.". I love my family but I would never defend or stick by them after a crime like this. I hope they all do. Thomas did not testify during the preliminary hearing nor has she been called yet as a witness during fer father and brothers murder trial currently underway in Salinas. I highly suspect that Paul and Ruben are both serial rapists/offenders. A month later, Thomas home was reportedly one of four Flores family homes searched by authorities. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Ermelinda Macarthur was born on 03/19/1974 and is 48 years old.Ermelinda Macarthur currently lives in Kenmore, WA; in the past Ermelinda has also lived in Long Beach CA, Arroyo Grande CA and Bothell WA.Other names that Ermelinda uses includes Ermelinda M Macarthur, Ermelinda M Flores, Ermelinda M Mac Arthur, Ermelinda Flores and Ermelinda M Thomas. EXAMINING CALIFORNIA'S KRISTIN SMART TRIAL: THE . Paul and Ruben Flores have. As for motive, Flores had and continues to have multiple allegations that he has raped or sexually harassed women, and also teens while he was in high school. Press J to jump to the feed. I don't think she was willingly involved. If I was her I'd have never moved back to California. Paul Flores escorted Smart back to her dorm after an off-campus party. Paul had this look on his face, the relative said. People vs. Flores #1: Motions. He was soon released from custody. I just logged on and the first two articles I read both have your comment asking about our DDs experience. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This could be conjecture but my guess is that since Chris is using her name that she is maybe more involved that previously thought, especially after her car was hauled out of Rubens garbage. Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm on May 25, 1996, which was relatively empty over. Kristin Denise Smart (born February 20, 1977, legally presumed dead May 25, 2002) was an American woman who is presumed to have been abducted, raped, and killed at the end of her freshman year of college on the campus of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. After Flores allegedly completed the trip with Smart, she was never seen again. Read the story: recordnet.com/article/20200118/NEWS/200119835, Multiple tips received following podcast on Kristin Smart disappearance, Former FBI agent weighs in on potential new developments in Kristin Smart case, Kristin was an adventurous fun loving young woman whose childhood was rich and filled with memorable moments.Unfortunately, it was cut short on May 25, 1996 when another Cal Poly student took her life and has continued to hide behind the 5th Amendment since the summer of 1996. In Southern California, investigators served a search warrant at Paul Flores' San Pedro home. The letter sent to Thomas by San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Detective Clint Cole, which was part of the documents Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer OKeefe has allowed to be released, explains that Cole has been working on the Kristin Smart case for more than two years. During a camping trip in Fresno, California, in the early 1990s, Floress female cousins playfully swiped and hid his wallet while walking en route to a liquor store to purchase slush puppies. Smart has long been suspected to have been abducted and killed in May 1996, while she was a freshman at California. No one ever saw Smart again. 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. Is the Five Cities Fire Authoritys future in jeopardy? It was only by pure luck that Paul was arrested for a different crime and the arresting agency (not Cal Poly PD) documented him having a black eye a fact that Cal Poly PD apparently never noticed. During a camping trip in Fresno, California, in the early 1990s, Flores's female cousins playfully swiped and hid his wallet while walking en route to a liquor store to purchase slush puppies. The sheriff's office also detailed the work that has been done on the case since it was made a priority for the department in 2011: Related: SLO Co. Sheriff confirms key pieces of evidence in Kristin Smart case, Investigators search home of Susan Flores in Arroyo Grande. Why did they keep it? The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. After Flores allegedly completed the trip with Smart, she was never seen again. Unblurred are Paul Flores (top center) and Ermelinda Flores (top right). "We have no responsibility for her disappearance and what happened to that young woman, and I've said it in a court of law," she insisted to the station. Not to be a cynic but the Republican DA faces a BLM challenge from an increasing Berkeley-esque electorate. Paul's sister reportedly lives in that area. God, what a fucked up situation the Flores family put themselves into. In later years, the Examiner reports that the Smart family constantly harassed Flores and his family in order to get him to speak about what he knew about Smarts disappearance. Since the focus is on Paul Flores what is the alleged motive for him to have committed this crime. Paul Flores, 44, was last seen with Smart before she went missing on May 25, 1996. We may learn more if any of them are called to testify in the preliminary hearing. Flores, now 44, was arrested simultaneously along with his 80-year-old father Tuesday. Last month, deputies conducted a two-day search for Smarts remains at the home of Ruben Flores. Flores and Smart had spoken at the party she had attended, witnesses said. Were after our daughter. Deputies towed the car from Rubin Flores home. Flores was one of the last people to see Smart and has been identified as a person-of-interest in the case. Her house was raided/electronics taken last year along with her parents and brothers homes. St. James Catholic School Christmas Party, 1982. ", "It's part of the reason I got involved in this," he told the Tribune. They used cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar to search Ruben Flores property. Maybe Paul called Ruben that night from the pay phone. Prior to that incident, Susan Flores and her boyfriend had filed a harassment lawsuit against Smarts family. Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. Girl Madalina Cojocari 'Not Telling Us Everything They Know': Police, How a True Crime Podcast Freed 2 Georgia Men Wrongfully Imprisoned 25 Years on Murder Conviction. He is the father of Paul Flores, the only suspect in the disappearance of Smart. Send pics, videos and tips to CCN. More than 3,000 pages of documents have been released as part of the case. In 1998, the San Francisco Examiner ran a feature on Flores that included a quote from his former lawyer, Greg Coates, who said that there were no facts to indicate that Paul had anything to do with the disappearance of Kristin Smart.. At the time of Smarts disappearance, Flores was a 19-year-old food science major at Cal-Poly. I believe (Flores) took her life. They are true psychopaths, and Ruben and Susan's behavior since Kristin's disappearance helps me understand why Paul is as sick and disturbed as he is. 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. I was going to comment that this fucked up family dynamic reminds me of Chris Watts' family, but Chris's family refuses to accept that either (a) Chris did it at all or (b) Chris did this "unprovoked" and in their delusion still treat him like a golden child. Maybe she had no idea until she was actually in the middle of it. Back in 1996, with classes finished before the long Memorial Day weekend, Smart, a 19-year-old California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo student, called her parents on Friday, May 24, and left a message telling them that she and some friends were heading to a party at 8 p.m. that night. Unblurred are Paul Flores (top center) and Ermelinda Flores (top right). And if her body is here and local, I or anyone could potentially find it with a shovel and sleuthing skills.". Paul Flores plays soccer at St. James Catholic School, 1982. The Modesto Bee reported in January 2003 that Scott Peterson, the man who was convicted of murdering his wife, Laci Peterson, in December 2002, was being eyed for link to the Smart case. I am deeply immersed in true crime and other macabre topics on a basically daily basis, so it takes a lot to really spook me - the Flores family makes me ill. BTW from Chris Lamberts podcast, I know that Ruben physically abused Susan which obviously speaks to his character. We only want our daughter back. At the time of the article, Flores was living in Southern California. Is the Five Cities Fire Authority's future in jeopardy? In 2021, he was charged with her murder. Paul Flores, 44, of San Pedro, was charged with murder, while his 80-year-old father faces a felony charge of being an accessory to a crime. If Dan Dow prosecutes the case then the Flores have nothing to worry about. hurting anyone, they should have done the right thing and turn him in. Remember this story where his cousin spoke about him being a pervert: Me, my sister, my cousinPaul has no limits, she said, requesting anonymity. Either way, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt. So how does Cal Polys lack of accountability and my water cooler conversation violate any decent standard? Audio from Flores father, Ruben Flores, can be heard on an episode of the podcast in which Ruben says he never spoke to his son about the disappearance of Smart. An attorney representing Flores, Sarah Sanger could not be reached for comment. Paul Flores was the primary suspect in the Kristin Smart disappearance for over 2 decades. The article added that Flores changed his story about how he got the black eye, first saying that he got it playing basketball and then later saying that he got it while fixing his car. Alexandra Wallace July 6, 2021. Kristin Smart murderer Paul Flores seeking a new trial, San Luis Obispo debates allowing bicyclists to ride on sidewalks. I believe that everyone who is in the Flores family circle including Susans boyfriend, and Ermelindas ex-husband Brett MacArthur AND her most recent ex-husband, is in on this, and is either directly involved with Kristins death (Paul) or the concealment of the crime. Flores faces a murder charge. The press release stated the sheriff's office will not be commenting any further and no additional information will be released at this time.

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