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

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Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]2m
Better late than never. Here's a few things from the Paul & Ruben Flores prelim in the #KristinSmart murder case this morning. Sheriff's Det. Clint Cole, the main investigator in the case, was on the stand defending his communications with a witness and another individual.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]2m
At issue is Cole's communications with Jennifer Hudson, who previously testified she heard Paul Flores admit to killing Smart. Defense attorney Robert Sanger has previously referred to "late night phone calls" between Cole and Hudson.

https://twitter.com/MattFountain1/status/1433159295982456833
 
Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]2m
Better late than never. Here's a few things from the Paul & Ruben Flores prelim in the #KristinSmart murder case this morning. Sheriff's Det. Clint Cole, the main investigator in the case, was on the stand defending his communications with a witness and another individual.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]2m
At issue is Cole's communications with Jennifer Hudson, who previously testified she heard Paul Flores admit to killing Smart. Defense attorney Robert Sanger has previously referred to "late night phone calls" between Cole and Hudson.

https://twitter.com/MattFountain1/status/1433159295982456833
 
KSBY [URL='https://twitter.com/KSBY']@KSBY [/URL]15m
SLO Co. Sheriff's Detective Clint Cole returned to the witness stand Wednesday in the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores, testifying that searches of Ruben's home turned up evidence leading them to believe human remains had been buried there.


[URL='https://t.co/9EkJaRqwCW?amp=1']Detective in Kristin Smart case testifies human blood, suspicious staining found in soil at...
Paul and Ruben Flores are back in court Wednesday for another day of their preliminary hearing.
ksby.com[/URL]
 
FLORES, PAUL 21F-02402-A 09/02/2021 09:00 D5 Robert M Sanger Preliminary Hearing
09/08/2021 09:00 D5 Robert M Sanger Hearing

FLORES, RUBEN 21F-02402-B 09/02/2021 09:00 D5 Harold V. Mesick Preliminary Hearing
09/08/2021 09:00 D5 Harold V. Mesick Preliminary Hearing

link: 5day.pdf
 
Thursday, Sept. 2nd:
*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 1-14) 8/2/21-8/23/21, 8/25/21 & 8/30/21 reference post #938 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2
8/31/21 Update: The 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. 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.
9/1/21 Update: State witnesses: Detective Clint Cole. Talked of wire taps that happened from 1/5/20 and lasted for 30 days. He also defended his communications with a witness & another individual. At issue is Cole's communications with Jennifer Hudson, with their "late night phone calls". Preliminary hearing continues on 9/2/21 & a hearing for Paul on 9/8 & preliminary hearing for Ruben on 9/8.
 
Alexa Bertola @Alexa_Bertola 1h
She said there was an area under the deck (left side) behind the lattice that her dog, Annie started to show changes of behavoir that is consistent with odor but she did not go to a final response. Searched the Volkswagen but did not alert. Annie is trained in human remains.

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 1h
Kristina Black testified that her dog had significant change in behavior underneath the backyard deck, but didn’t fully alert to the presence of remains. We’re expecting to hear from a second handler this morning.

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 1h
Good morning. Back at the prelim in the #KristinSmart murder case. This morning we’re hearing from two handlers of human remains detecting dogs who searched Ruben Flores’ Arroyo Grande home in March.

Alexa Bertola @Alexa_Bertola 1h
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Canine Specialized Search Team handler Kristine Black took the stand. She's the assistant director for the search and rescue team. She talked about her search of 710 White Court on March 15, 2021
 
Last edited:
Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]11m
Second handler's name is Karen Atkinson, certified by California Rescue Dog Association.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]13m
Also, we were expecting to hear again from witness Jennifer Hudson this afternoon, but she’s ill. So we’re taking a witness out of order instead and I didn’t catch the person’s name. I’ll post another update here

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]16m
The second handler, , testified similarly after the recess that her dog, an English lab, also exhibited a strong change in behavior once let under the deck. But the dog didn’t fully alert. Cross-examination expected after lunch.
 
Alexa Bertola @Alexa_Bertola 1h
Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Canine Specialized Search Team handler Karen Atkinson took the stand as well. She talked about how her dog, Amiga showed a change in behavior while under the deck of Ruben’s house but did not show an alert for human remains.
 
Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]32m
Reporting for @CPMustangNews
on #KristinSmart case and Flores Prelim: During the second half of the day, Forensic Specialist Shelby Liddell took the stand to testify about her findings at 710 White Court on March 15-16, 2021.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]17m
Off the record moment everyone: Seeing the photos of the dug up deck with the big stain made the room ten times colder in my unprofessional opinion, Kristin’s family was getting emotional and sniffling could be heard around the room. Just trying to paint a picture- I got chills.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]17m
More updates to come at 4:30pm.

Alexa Bertola [URL='https://twitter.com/Alexa_Bertola']@Alexa_Bertola [/URL]13m
A forensic specialist with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is on the stand. She’s talking about the searches at Ruben Flores’ Arroyo Grande property in March and April of this year.

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]14m
Liddell said investigators ultimately removed a stretch of the decking so that excavators could better access the entire patch. Testimony resumes in a few

[URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 15m
The court was shown photographs from the dig in the area where the two cadaver dogs showed a change in behavior. Between 3-4 ft deep, photos showed out-of-place looking stains in the soil. Staining had dark edges, with lighter colored soil inside the body of the staining[/URL]

Matt Fountain [URL='https://twitter.com/MattFountain1']@MattFountain1 [/URL]18m
This afternoon, Shelby Liddell, a SLO Sheriff’s forensic specialist, testified about excavations done March 15-16 and April 13-14 of this year under Ruben Flores’ deck in AG.
 
Listen, my drawing skills aren’t the best but the photographs Liddell took what were shown of the stain looked something like the drawing below. It was mostly a dark uneven outline somewhat creeping down the dug out area.
9CDFD9F8-1DCB-4AE5-8BC7-DA0778A2D3CA.jpeg
Off the record moment everyone: Seeing the photos of the dug up deck with the big stain made the room ten times colder in my unprofessional opinion, Kristin’s family was getting emotional and sniffling could be heard around the room. Just trying to paint a picture- I got chills.

https://twitter.com/avakershner/status/1433553163953471490?s=21
 
MassGuy said:
Listen, my drawing skills aren’t the best but the photographs Liddell took what were shown of the stain looked something like the drawing below. It was mostly a dark uneven outline somewhat creeping down the dug out area.
View attachment 311073
Off the record moment everyone: Seeing the photos of the dug up deck with the big stain made the room ten times colder in my unprofessional opinion, Kristin’s family was getting emotional and sniffling could be heard around the room. Just trying to paint a picture- I got chills.

https://twitter.com/avakershner/status/1433553163953471490?s=21
Click to expand...

Chilling.
 
Really hoping they can test (or are in the process of testing) the fibers/soil for DNA (unless I missed that part somewhere or they will bring that up); otherwise I worry that talking about the color of fibers matching Kristin's clothing/the stain will not be enough
 
Lauren @LaurenWalike 21m
Many students have lived in Paul Flores’ former dorm room in Santa Lucia after #KristinSmart’s disappearance. But now Paul Flores is being charged with murder. I talked to two students who are going to live in his former room, here's what they had to say


Paul Flores’ former dorm room assigned to two Cal Poly students who plan to honor Kristin Smart
If you’re living on the Central Coast, Kristin Smart is a name you may have heard quite frequently in the past few months. Smart was a Cal Poly student who
kcbx.org
 
Ava Kershner @avakershner 1h
Court will resume at 9:30am tomorrow morning.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]1h
Liddell went through the things that could create a false positive reaction with blue star. They include vegetables, paints and varnishes, and household cleaners such a chlorine bleach.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]1h
Peuvrelle then put the photo of the trailer up after the blue star was applied with a large blue glowing splatter like pattern right inside the door. Liddell said it was roughly 1 and 1/2 feet by 2-3 feet, and that they cut out that section of the trailer for the lab.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]1h
Liddell used a technique called Blue Star, which enchanted potential blood evidence with a blue glow in the dark. She went through the process of photographing the trailer before, applying the blue star with a spray bottle, making the area dark and photographing any glowing.

Ava Kershner [URL='https://twitter.com/avakershner']@avakershner [/URL]1h
Peuvrelle went through photos of the excavated areas under the deck, highlighting the stains and having Liddell outline what she collected for samples. They then went into questioning about the trailer belonging to Mike McConville and Liddell’s findings.
 
The testimony by Shelby Liddell (forensic specialist) regarding the staining in the soil under the accused RF deck, Blue Star, MM trailer .... a lot to take in.

I googled decomposition in soil and read that decomposition changes the chemistry in the soil. I'm trying to be respectful here, if chemicals were poured in that area I'm wondering if any DNA can be extracted from the decomposition at all. Shelby Liddell did take soil samples for testing, I don't think she testified to the results though.

The footage shown on KSBY News this evening of the staining in the soil under the deck was disturbing.

JMHO ..... an individual has to be filled with so much EVIL to bury an individual they are responsible for their demise on their own property. It's just pure sic!

The DNA swabs taken of RF/SF and MM probably have some connection to MM trailer.
 
Last edited:
FLORES, PAUL 21F-02402-A 09/03/2021 09:30 D5 Robert M Sanger Preliminary Hearing
FLORES, PAUL 21F-02402-A 09/08/2021 09:00 D5 Robert M Sanger Hearing
09/09/2021 09:00 D5 Robert M Sanger Motion for Return of Property

FLORES, RUBEN 21F-02402-B 09/03/2021 09:30 D5 Harold V. Mesick Preliminary Hearing
09/08/2021 09:00 D5 Harold V. Mesick Preliminary Hearing
09/09/2021 09:00 D5 Harold V. Mesick Motion for Return of Property

link: https://drive.google.comKaren Atkinson, certified by California Rescue Dog Association./file/d/1NVf08uF3T5bV089kNEYxxII8YZcI1uQi/view
 
Friday, Sept. 3rd:
*Preliminary Hearing for both (@ 9:30am 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 1-14) 8/2/21-8/23/21, 8/25/21 & 8/30/21 & 8/31/21 & 9/1/21 reference post #945 here:
Still Missing - CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2
9/2/21 Update: State witnesses: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Canine Specialized Search Team handler Kristine Black. She said there was an area under the deck (left side) behind the lattice that her dog, Annie started to show changes of behavoir that is consistent with odor but she did not go to a final response. Searched the Volkswagen but did not alert. Annie is trained in human remains. Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Canine Specialized Search Team handler Karen Atkinson, certified by California Rescue Dog Association. She talked about how her dog, Amiga showed a change in behavior while under the deck of Ruben’s house but did not show an alert for human remains. SLO Sherriff's Forensic Specialist Shelby Liddell testified about her findings at 710 White Court on March 15-16, 2021. The court was shown photographs from the dig in the area where the two cadaver dogs showed a change in behavior. Between 3-4 ft deep, photos showed out-of-place looking stains in the soil. Staining had dark edges, with lighter colored soil inside the body of the staining. Preliminary hearing continues on 9/3/21 @ 9:30am. Paul has hearing on 9/8 @ 9am & Ruben a preliminary hearing on 9/8/21 @ 9am & both have Motion for Return of Property hearing on 9/9/21 @ 9am.
 
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