Deceased/Not Found CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 5/25/1996 *Guilty* #4

[LinasK]

It was a tough case to prosecute. I think they were lucky to get Paul after all this time.

What battles me is how the police missed her being buried under the porch 25 years ago.

Cadaver dogs did it for me. They don't lie. A cadaver dog hit is like finding a perp's DNA, then matching him up in the CODIS data base. It's solid evidence.

 

[Trouble1321075]

Cadaver dogs did it for me. They don't lie. A cadaver dog hit is like finding a perp's DNA, then matching him up in the CODIS data base. It's solid evidence.

From what I have read they had strong circumstantial evidence

 

[LinasK]

KTVU Fox 2 reports that sentencing will be Dec. 9th.

 

[LinasK]

I just heard a defense attorney call Cadaver dogs "junk science" and say that that evidence shouldn't have been admitted and that it's grounds for Paul to appeal. GRRRR! She is so wrong!

 

[katydid23]

I just heard a defense attorney call Cadaver dogs "junk science" and say that that evidence shouldn't have been admitted and that it's grounds for Paul to appeal. GRRRR! She is so wrong!

wait a minute---didn't they found traces of blood in the area?

 

[Seattle1]

wait a minute---didn't they found traces of blood in the area?

Behind latticework beneath the deck of his large house on a dead end street, archaeologists working for police in March 2021 found a soil disturbance about the size of a casket and the presence of human blood, prosecutors said. The blood was too degraded to extract a DNA sample.

A jury convicted Paul Flores of murdering college student Kristin Smart in 1996

Kristin Smart, a college freshman, vanished from a California campus in 1996. Paul Flores was the last person seen with Smart as he walked her home from an off-campus party.

www.npr.org

 

[Aloe]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582505943090110465

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582505944545603585

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582505946554650625

A jury of Monterey county people couldn’t bring in a guilty verdict, but SLO knows what happened.

 

[IzzyBlanche]

I just heard a defense attorney call Cadaver dogs "junk science" and say that that evidence shouldn't have been admitted and that it's grounds for Paul to appeal. GRRRR! She is so wrong!

IANAL but as far as I know he can appeal away but he'll still be locked up in the meantime.

Appeals take time. Lots and lottttts of time.

 

[katydid23]

wait a minute---didn't they found traces of blood in the area?

Behind latticework beneath the deck of his large house on a dead end street, archaeologists working for police in March 2021 found a soil disturbance about the size of a casket and the presence of human blood, prosecutors said. The blood was too degraded to extract a DNA sample.

A jury convicted Paul Flores of murdering college student Kristin Smart in 1996

Kristin Smart, a college freshman, vanished from a California campus in 1996. Paul Flores was the last person seen with Smart as he walked her home from an off-campus party.

www.npr.org

Mark Redwine tried that defense too----claiming the cadaver dogs were 'junk science.' And after the Guilty Verdict, they pointed to the dog trainers testimony as something they will appeal.

But in the Redwine trial, the cadaver dogs hit on his truck, and on one of his t-shirts----but no forensics or blood evidence were ever found in those areas that dogs alerted to.

So I think there is a possibility that it is questionable testimony.

But in Kristin's case the dogs hit on someplace that did turn out to have forensics which could be evidence that a body was there asa one time. So I don't think it is a strongly appealable argument. JMO

 

[Niner]

Update!

Tuesday, October 18th:
*Trial continues (Day 40)-VERDICT REACHED! (@ 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; legally declared dead on May 25, 2002) – *Paul Ruben Flores (19 @ time of crime/44/now 45) arrested (4/13/21), charged (4/14/21) & arraigned (10/20/21) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. No bond.
*Ruben Ricardo Flores (55 @ time of crime/80/now 81) arrested (4/13/21), charged (4/14/21) & arraigned (10/20/21) 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.
Trial began on 7/18/22 with opening statements for Paul in am & Ruben in pm (which was continued on 7/21/22). State rested their case on 9/20/22. Defense started presenting their case on 9/21/22 & rested their case on 9/27/22. Rebuttal on 9/29/22. Closing arguments begin on 10/3/22 for Paul’s jury & on 10/4/22 for Ruben’s jury.
Paul’s attorney Robert Sanger & Ruben’s is Harold V. Mesick. Prosecutor is Christopher Peuvrelle. Judge Jennifer O’Keefe presiding.
Trial has been moved from San Luis Obispo County to Monterey County in Salinas. For 2 juries each: 12 jurors & 8 alternates; Paul’s: 8 men & 12 women & Ruben’s: 9 men & 10 women (still waiting for correction). 8/4/22: Another juror from Ruben's jury is out this morning & an alternate was sworn in to replace them. So now the count is correct at 19. 8/10/22: Sick juror did not return, alternate sworn in. Paul’s: 7 men & 12 women & Ruben’s: 9 men & 10 women. 10/13/22: Male juror excused for talking to his priest re case. Now: 8 men & 11 women. (a guess on genders).
Deliberations calculated at 6 ½ hours per day (8:30am to 4:30pm/1 hour for lunch & 2 15 min. breaks). Paul Jury: 10/4/22 Deliberations: ~3pm-4:30pm (1 ½ hours). 10/5/22: ~6 ½ hours; Total: ~8 hours. 10/6/22: ~6 ½ hours. Total ~14 ½ hours. 10/7/22: ~6 ½ hours. Total ~21 hours. Podcast says ~15 hours 30 mins. 10/13/22: ~4 hours. 10/14/22: No deliberations. Total: ~19 ½ hours. Podcast says ~20 hours. 10/17/22: ~6 ½ hours: Total: ~26 hours. 10/18/22: ~1 hour reached verdict ~9:30am. Total: ~27 hours. Found guilty of 1st degree murder.
Ruben Jury: 10/5/22 Deliberations: ~1:45pm-4:30pm (~2 hours 45 mins). 10/6/22: ~6 ½ hours. Total: 9 hours 15 mins. 10/7/22: ~6 ½ hours. Total: ~15 hours & 45 mins. Podcast says ~13 hours. 10/13/22: ~3 hours. Total: ~18 hours & 45 mins. New juror. 10/13/22: ~ 1 hour with new juror. 10/14/22: ~8:30am to 3pm (~6 ½ hours). Total: 7 ½ hours. Podcast says ~6 hours. 10/17/22: ~8:30am reached verdict ~ 9am. (~1/2 hour). Total: ~8 hours. Found not guilty of accessory after the fact.
Case & court info from 5/17/21 thru 7/19/22 & Trial Day 1-39 (7/18 to 10/17/22, no court on 9/28), Closing argument Day 1-3 (10/3 to 10/5/22) & Jury deliberations thru 10/14/22 reference post #499 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-kristin-smart-san-luis-obispo-arrests-4.635475/page-25
10/18/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 40/Jury Deliberations for Paul’s case continues on Day 7. Jury has reached a verdict. Arrived at approximately 8:30am & verdict at about 9:40am. Verdict read at 1:30pm.
For more info see posts #503 & 504 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-kristin-smart-san-luis-obispo-arrests-4.635475/page-26
Paul Flores found guilty. Sentencing hearing on 12/9/22. Ruben Flores found not guilty.
For more info see posts #541 & 567 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-kristin-smart-san-luis-obispo-arrests-4.635475/page-28

 

[ErinC]

At least they got Paul. Ruben will have to explain himself to Kristin soon enough.

 

[Seattle1]

California jury finds man guilty in the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart | CNN

A California jury has found Paul Flores, the man accused of the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart, guilty of first-degree murder, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

www.cnn.com

 

[Seattle1]

Paul Flores guilty of first-degree murder of Kristin Smart​

Wow -- PF's attorney once indicated that for manslaughter, PF could make the victim's remains surface, and prosecutors offered his sister full immunity if she would cooperate with investigators. None of this was ever disclosed to jurors.

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582577350209830912

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582535730819174400

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582530950671499264

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582511872099565569

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582535330439184384

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582539676119748608

 

[Emi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582750996828020736

 

[Emi]

Kristin Smart Case: Man Convicted of Killing Missing California College Student

 

[LinasK]

Mark Redwine tried that defense too----claiming the cadaver dogs were 'junk science.' And after the Guilty Verdict, they pointed to the dog trainers testimony as something they will appeal.

But in the Redwine trial, the cadaver dogs hit on his truck, and on one of his t-shirts----but no forensics or blood evidence were ever found in those areas that dogs alerted to.

So I think there is a possibility that it is questionable testimony.

But in Kristin's case the dogs hit on someplace that did turn out to have forensics which could be evidence that a body was there asa one time. So I don't think it is a strongly appealable argument. JMO

Dogs have extremely powerful noses, way moreso than humans, which is why they are also used to sniff out drugs, detect diseases like Cancer, and used in disasters for search and rescue. They are trained to respond only to specific scents and have proven to be very accurate and they can't lie.

 

[Seattle1]

Chester the molester... revisiting the 2019 YOB podcast 3 years later. I learned of this case in October 2019 because of the podcast.

Episode 02: The Only Suspect — YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Who is Paul Flores? Chris talks to women who knew him before he was the suspect in Kristin Smart's disappearance, and learns that none of them were surprised.

www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com

Reference to settlement conference (unsealed motion June 23, 2022, by PF's first attorney).

Your Own Backyard on Instagram: "An unsealed motion filed by the prosecution on June 23, 2022 confirms that Paul Flores’ first attorney continued to broach a plea deal over several years, eventually going up the chain at the District Attorney’s offic

Your Own Backyard shared a post on Instagram: "An unsealed motion filed by the prosecution on June 23, 2022 confirms that Paul Flores’ first attorney continued to broach a plea deal over several years, eventually going up the chain at the District Attorney’s office. This deal suggested that...

www.instagram.com

 

[Slawsb]

At least they got Paul. Ruben will have to explain himself to Kristen soon enough.

Yes he is in for a shock when he crosses over for sure....