Still Missing CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2

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Could he claim that she went to sleep on his bed and he slept on they floor say , and he woke up and she had died ? Then panicked and phoned his dad to hide her body?


I don’t believe this happened at all btw , just thinking of his defence options.
 
Monday, August 30th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am PT) - CA - Kristin Denise Smart (19) (missing May 25, 1996 while walking back to her dorm from a off campus frat party at Cal Poly, reported missing on May 26, 1996, San Luis Obispo, still missing) – for *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Preliminary Hearing (@ 9am PT) – CA – for *Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty. $250K bond. Bond was lower to $50K. Has posted bond (4/22/21), out of jail.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 to 7/28/21 & Preliminary hearing (Day 1-12) 8/2/21-8/23/21 reference post #905 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2
8/25/21 Update: Motions hearing for Paul & preliminary hearing for Ruben continued. Motions hearing for Paul on 8/30/21 @ 8:30am re color of ties.
8/25/21 Update: Judge Craig van Rooyen ruled that the SLO County DA office & DDA Christopher Peuvrelle will be allowed to continue prosecuting the case. The judge denied the defense’s motion to recuse over the prosecution team wearing purple ties in support of the Smart family. Court then took up a defense Pitchess motion to access a law enforcement officer’s personnel records, if there’s reason to believe there’s been misconduct or bad faith dealings during an investigation. Judge said the review of Cole's records will look for any alleged misconduct related to his dealings with witness Jennifer Hudson during the Smart investigation, or any other alleged misconduct from any of Cole's cases over the past 5 years. Ann Duggan from SLO County Counsel's Office was in court to represent Cole, a Sheriff's detective & oppose the motion. But Judge van Rooyen found that the filed moving papers, which are under seal, were enough to convince him for the in-camera review. And court is adjourned until Monday, 8/30/21 for Paul for motions hearing. Judge van Rooyen granted the defense's motion for a Pitchess in-camera (in chambers or non-public) review of Det. Cole's personnel records. For Ruben preliminary hearing on 8/30/21. The prosecutor said he's optimistic the preliminary hearing will wrap up by September 3.
 
Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]28s

In the hour we were in session, we learned that a reason for the late start was new discovery given to the defense this morning regarding our first witness, Gail LaRouque, who was one of four handlers of human remains detection dogs that alerted on Paul Flores' dorm room in 1996
 
Tuesday, August 31st:
*Preliminary Hearing for both (@ 9am PT) - CA - Kristin Denise Smart (19) (missing May 25, 1996 while walking back to her dorm from a off campus frat party at Cal Poly, reported missing on May 26, 1996, San Luis Obispo, still missing) – *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty. $250K bond. Bond was lower to $50K. Has posted bond (4/22/21), out of jail.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 to 7/28/21 & Preliminary hearing (Day 1-12) 8/2/21-8/23/21 & 8/25/21reference post #922 here: Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2
8/25/21 Update: Judge Craig van Rooyen ruled that the SLO County DA office & DDA Christopher Peuvrelle will be allowed to continue prosecuting the case. The judge denied the defense’s motion to recuse over the prosecution team wearing purple ties in support of the Smart family. Court then took up a defense Pitchess motion to access a law enforcement officer’s personnel records, if there’s reason to believe there’s been misconduct or bad faith dealings during an investigation. Judge said the review of Cole's records will look for any alleged misconduct related to his dealings with witness Jennifer Hudson during the Smart investigation, or any other alleged misconduct from any of Cole's cases over the past 5 years. Ann Duggan from SLO County Counsel's Office was in court to represent Cole, a Sheriff's detective & oppose the motion. But Judge van Rooyen found that the filed moving papers, which are under seal, were enough to convince him for the in-camera review. And court is adjourned until Monday, 8/30/21 for Paul for motions hearing. Judge van Rooyen granted the defense's motion for a Pitchess in-camera (in chambers or non-public) review of Det. Cole's personnel records. For Ruben preliminary hearing on 8/30/21. The prosecutor said he's optimistic the preliminary hearing will wrap up by September 3.
8/30/21 Update: For the late start was new discovery given to the defense this morning regarding our first witness, Gail LaRouque, who was one of four handlers of human remains detection dogs that alerted on Paul Flores' dorm room in 1996 & include the defense team’s request for testimony from convicted murderer Scott Peterson.Next preliminary hearing for both on 8/31/21.
 
Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]16h
Not much to report so far from this afternoon’s session. Much of it spent cross examining cadaver dog handler’s experience and certifications.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]16h
Before recess we briefly got to Gail LaRoque’s testimony about her dog Toorey’s search of the Santa Lucia Hall on June 26, 1996, some 32 days after #KristinSmart’s disappearance.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]16h
LaRoque said the dog ran down the hall and did a “fish hook” back to Paul Flores’ Room 128 and alerted. Inside, Toorey targeted a mattress and was sniffing around as if smelling something in the air, she said. Then we went to recess. Heading back in.

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 19h
In the hour we were in session, we learned that a reason for the late start was new discovery given to the defense this morning regarding our first witness, Gail LaRouque, who was one of four handlers of human remains detection dogs that alerted on Paul Flores' dorm room in 1996
 
Alexa Bertola [URL='https://twitter.com/Alexa_Bertola']@Alexa_Bertola [/URL]1h
This afternoon, we will resume with testimony from retired supervising criminalist, Faye Springer. She specializes in trace evidence. @KSBY


Alexa Bertola [URL='https://twitter.com/Alexa_Bertola']@Alexa_Bertola [/URL]1h
We heard testimony from dog handler, Wayne Behrens today. He and his dog, Sierra searched the Santa Lucia dorms on June 29, 1996. He’s the third dog handler that has testified in the prelim. @KSBY
 
Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 13m
The defense says they were just informed today the substance of Springer’s testimony.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]14m
Under cross, she said it would not be unusual to find such fibers in soil at a construction site or near a house. She also said whomever collected the fibers should have been wearing protective gear as to not contaminate samples. Doesn’t sound like whoever did was.


Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]18m
The colors largely had not faded, consistent with being protected from sun and rain, Springer said.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]19m
Faye Springer testified that fibers were black, pink, light colored, and blue. Some were synthetic and others appeared to be cotton-like, but she only recorded appearance and didn’t run any forensic tests to be sure, she said. (KS was wearing pink, black when she disappeared)

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]21m
This afternoon the court heard from a trace evidence expert (criminologist) who examined fibers provided to her by Det. Clint Cole that were found in soil of some sort (they haven’t said, but supposedly found under Ruben Flores’ deck)
 
Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]7m
RF then corrected himself and said, “I mean, I’m the only person that’s been arrested,” according to Cole's testimony late Tuesday.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]7m
According to Cole, RF while reading the search warrant asked why investigators why they sought DNA samples from his ex-wife Susan Flores and her boyfriend Mike McConville. “They didn’t commit a felony, I did,” Det. Clint Cole testified that Ruben Flores said.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]8m
Just filed the final version of today's story, but a few notes from this afternoon: Det. Cole testified that Ruben Flores made an inadvertent confession when investigators took a cheek swab DNA sample in May after his arrest.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 1st:
*Preliminary Hearing for both (@ 9am PT) - CA - Kristin Denise Smart (19) (missing May 25, 1996 while walking back to her dorm from a off campus frat party at Cal Poly, reported missing on May 26, 1996, San Luis Obispo, still missing) – *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80) arrested & charged (4/13/21) & arraigned (4/15/21) with accessory to murder after the fact. Plead not guilty. $250K bond. Bond was lower to $50K. Has posted bond (4/22/21), out of jail.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 to 7/28/21 & Preliminary hearing (Day 1-12) 8/2/21-8/23/21 & 8/25/21reference post #927 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2
8/30/21 Update: For the late start was new discovery given to the defense this morning regarding our first witness, Gail LaRouque, who was one of four handlers of human remains detection dogs that alerted on Paul Flores' dorm room in 1996 & include the defense team’s request for testimony from convicted murderer Scott Peterson. . LaRoque said the dog Toorey ran down the hall & did a “fish hook” back to Paul Flores’ Room 128 & alerted. Inside, Toorey targeted a mattress & was sniffing around as if smelling something in the air. Next preliminary hearing for both on 8/31/21.
8/31/21 Update: The reason for the late start was new discovery given to the defense this morning regarding the first witness, Gail LaRouque, who was one of the 4 handlers of human remains detection dogs that alerted on Paul Flores' dorm room in 1996.
State witnesses: Dog handler Wayne Behrens who’s dog Sierra searched the Santa Lucia Dorm on June 29, 1996. Behrens started his dog handling over 30 years ago. Faye Springs, Sacramento county criminologist specializes in "trace evidence". Detective Clint Cole. Cole testified that Ruben Flores made an inadvertent confession when investigators took a cheek swab DNA sample in May after his arrest. Preliminary hearing continues on 9/1/21.
 
Ay Caramba! I guess when Cole and Camp showed up at RF door with a warrant for a DNA swab it caught him off guard..... slip of the tongue there. Was there any reaction from the accused when Cole testified to what RF said?

Im guessing we all want to know what evidence the DA may have that needed the DNA from RF/SF and MM.

Apparently Sanger isn't going to let up on having CMSP testify so he says. Who ordered CMSP to be available? Sanger?!? Who? I can't help but think this is nothing more than a ruse so Sanger can meet up with CMSP just to get some free publicity. I'm glad the Judge stated he wants Sanger to provide relevance before he will allow the CMSP to testify.

Did the Criminalist Springer testify to examining the hair found in the accused PF dorm room, or did she just examine the fibers that Det Cole gave her?
 
Last edited:
Alexa Bertola [URL='https://twitter.com/Alexa_Bertola']@Alexa_Bertola [/URL]9m
He also said that law enforcement leaked info to Chris Lambert that they had Paul Flores' white Nissan pick up in their possession. Info was leaked for his podcast and it was during the time of the wire taps.


Alexa Bertola [URL='https://twitter.com/Alexa_Bertola']@Alexa_Bertola [/URL]11m
Det. Cole back on the stand this morning. He said wire taps happened involving the Flores Family from January 5th of 2020 and it lasted for 30 days.
 
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