That's been our goal. School was over, so campus police found an empty room that had been sanitized by the university's cleaning crew. James Murphy: So why would Susan Flores, her boyfriend, and Ruben Flores be up all night long working under that deck. Even though he'd never investigated anything before, Lambert quit his job to create a podcast about the case. putting murder on the lawsuit was sending a message to Paul Flores and his family, that we believe that he killed Kristin and that we're coming for him. [emotional] I will go outside at nighttime and I'll look up at the full moon and I'll think that that kid's buried somewhere real close. Jonathan Vigliotti [with Lambert outside of the the dorms]: Paul and Kristin then make their way here. There was no change in the soil consistent with that.. The sheriff's office still wasn't convinced they had enough evidence against Flores. Whatever happened in those early hours, one thing is indisputable: Kristin Smart has never been seen again. Jane said she took Flores up on carpool offers to and from high school whenever she would be walking solo from her mothers home in Arroyo Grande, California. Facebook gives people the. Just weeks later, Kristin's frustrated parents contacted James Murphy, a local civil attorney. She was gone. Acerca; Prensa; And very chilling. I don't know if Kristin knew anybody there. The Smarts' younger daughter, Lindsey, described her parents to Vigliotti: "I think they're like carrying boulders on their backs.". Often, Sarah would be at one party or another and there was Flores. At a Halloween party back in 1995before Smart had gone missingFlores allegedly grabbed Sarahs crotch on the dance floor. I remember being home watching the news about Kristin Smart and there goes Paul, she recalled. Susan Flores's backyard has been the focus of widespread speculation. Multiple attempts to reach Flores and his parents to comment on the new accusations were unsuccessful. Ruben lived here with his wife, Susan, and their children, Ermelinda and Paul. And it all came back to me. The Smart family. James Murphy and Garin Sinclair look at the billboard that has been in their front yard for more than two decades. Another frustration for the Smarts: at the time Kristin disappeared, investigators weren't aware that Paul Flores's parents were separated and living apart. She regretfully denounced them as cruel rumors at the time. suddenly major pieces of evidence came forward. A break in the case happened in 2020 when sheriffs deputies wire-tapped the phones of Flores, his father, and his mother to record their private conversations. In the meantime, Paul Flores moved to Southern California, where he bounced from job to job. . Jonathan Vigliotti found Flores outside his home in Southern California and asked him a number of questions about Kristin's disappearance. I was like It wasnt. She didn't think that was OK. Paul Flores lives in San Pedro, CA; previous city include Arroyo Grande CA. My mom opened the door and she cries, Oh my God!. I always said, He wouldnt do that., Sexually, Laura paints Paul Flores as very experienced and maintaining a very healthy appetite., It would get too aggressive and at times I had to say, Hey, calm down., Laura says that one time they were wrestling in bed and Flores got too aggressive and grabbed a butter knife and pushed it against my face., She says she kept pleading for him to settle down. And yes, we believe it's linked to Kristin. And so, she pulled me into this sort of like, "oh come on, let's socialize. DAN DOW [press conference]: We have evidence that we do believe there are other people that are not yet identified that have had some kind of a criminal act perpetrated on them by Mr. Flores. Im fine. In one of Paul's police interviews he mentioned that he wanted to be let out of the interview because he needed to help clean up concrete at his mom's house So, what was being done in Susan Flores's backyard in the weeks after Kristin went missing? An earring that appeared to match the necklace Kristin is wearing on the billboard. When approached about Janes rape claim, an Arroyo Grande Police Department administrator said in an email that their search revealed no such records exist; therefore, there are no responsive documents. Before their findings, another administrator told The Daily Beast on the phone that because the matter was a sexual assault case it fell under a non-disclosure category and therefore they wouldnt be providing any specific information about it. He invoked the Fifth Amendment 27 times. He claimed he didnt even know her name, Peuvrelle said. James Murphy: It was just a sad phone call to have somebody say, our daughter disappeared and we think she's the victim of foul play and we'd like to pursue the guy that we think is responsible. By the time they inspected Flores's room, Kristin had been gone for 16 days. Empresa. She made a decision that shes regretted ever since. And Murphy and Sinclair believe they can prove it. James Murphy: Somebody found an earring that they say was Kristin Smart's jewelry in the driveway. You wouldn't let any of your friends be drunk around him. That turned out to be college. When Kristin Smart disappeared, Paul Flores's parents Susan and Ruben were separated and living apart. The accusations didnt stop with classmates: Flores allegedly couldnt restrain himself around his own kin. But I've seen it. D.A. The charming blue house with the picket fence on East Branch Street seemed perfect. According to a county probation bail report obtained by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, "biological evidence" was found under Ruben's deck. PODCAST EPISODE 1: I googled Kristin Smart's name every few years. Ruben Flores and his estranged wife Susan have always denied any role in Kristin Smart's disappearance. It is also what the Smarts have been waiting for for more than a quarter of a century. Eventually they moved in together along with a male roommate in a two-bedroom apartment in nearby Lawndale. 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., But Jane said she fought to get them to reconsider. Murphy has filed a new civil suit against Ruben Flores for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. but I knew that I could try to do a small part. At the time, she was a 19-year-old freshman at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, who'd grown up in Stockton, Calif. On the night of her disappearance, she was spotted at a house party, which she left with three people. Paul Flores and his father both pleaded not guilty to all charges at their arraignment. What's going on? A . E Branch St, Arroyo Grande, CA Plus Addresses In Torrance, CA | San Pedro, CA Relatives Paul Ruben Flores Ermelinda Marie Flores Susan P Flores Paul F Gil View details Phone Numbers (805) nay - peek (805) nay - peek + 1 more View Details AGE 40s Ruben D Flores Santa Barbara, CA (Mesa) Aliases Ruben Flores-Diazchavez Ruben D Flores Espinoza But Flores' basketball friends told investigators that he already had the. Since speaking with The Daily Beast, at least one of the women who has come forward saying Flores attacked her has been questioned by a detective working the Smart case. Instead, on Monday, May 27, Denise Pearce says the Smarts got a call from Cal Poly's campus police asking if Kristin was with them. My heart dropped, she said. When Anderson looked back one last time at Flores and Smart, she saw that he was leading Smart toward his dorm, Santa Lucia Hall, not Muir Hall, the prosecutor told the jury. Other names that Ermelinda uses includes Ermelinda M Macarthur, Ermelinda M Flores, Ermelinda M Mac Arthur, Ermelinda Flores and Ermelinda M Thomas. Flores wasn't talking. In October 1996, Mary and her family moved in. Like what may have been discovered in March 2021 when investigators searched Ruben Flores' house using cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar. Back in May 1996, Kristin Smart was finishing her freshman year at California Polytechnic State University better known as Cal Poly. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. DAN DOW [press conference]: But the allegation that he was committing or attempting to commit a rape when he killed her, is the basis for which we are able to file first-degree felony murder charges. Resides in Blue Bell, PA. Lambert began looking into what happened to Kristin, collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone with information. James Murphy: And it's 2:30 and 3 o'clock in the morning at Cal Poly this is not a a location from which Paul alone could easily move a body without a vehicle. Friday, May 24, 1996, was the start of the Memorial Day weekend. PODCAST EPISODE 4: So, I walk him up to his sister's apartment, and all of a sudden, he just like picked me up, carried me inside, turned around and shut the apartment door, and locked it. Ermelinda Flores' property in Washington state has been searched by investigators in February 2020. He threw [my cousin] to the ground and got on top of her and putting his hands down her top even after he got his wallet. Flores roommate was out of town that weekend, and Paul knew he had three full days in that room (alone), Peuvrelle told the jury. The Arroyo Grande cops, Jane said, favored Floress story that she willingly drank and had sex that night. More than two decades later, Chris Lambert, a podcaster who was investigating Kristin's disappearance, tracked down and interviewed Mary Lassiter. Kristin Smart and Paul Flores were briefly seen speaking to each other during the party. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. DAN DOW [press conference]: It is alleged that Mr. Flores caused the death of Kristen Smart while in the commission of or attempted rape. He later argued that the biological evidence found under the deck was not conclusively human blood. I told her I didn't I didn't want to go. "48 Hours" looks back to their arrests and how the saga began. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Jonathan Vigliotti: They thought she was off possibly having fun. Chris Lambert: It's hard to take too much credit But I was one piece of the puzzle that helped to make this all come together when it did. An important tip came in after a February 2020 search of Paul, Susan and Ruben's properties. Smart, a native of Stockton, was nearing the end of her. Chris Lambert: It was never marked as evidence apparently. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Prosecution wraps its case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students, Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment. But was there evidence possibly placing Kristin Smart at his mother's home? ), A sheriff offices spokesman said his agency couldnt say if investigators working Smarts cold case had been made aware or not of the new alleged victims, citing refusal to comment on an open and active investigation.. Flores and Smart had spoken at the party. But as Chris Lambert learned, campus police did not act right away. Lambert also interviewed a woman who dated Flores until, she says, he became physically and verbally abusive. Chris Lambert: So, if you believe Paul's story, he goes into his dorm room here. Greg Fisher and Michelle Fanucci are the development producers. It wasn't until Kristin's roommate returned to their dorm room, that Margarita realized Kristin never came home. James Murphy: They brought in the first dog and they'd had the dog go through the dorms. Jonathan Vigliotti | CBS News correspondent: You wanted to go home, and you were trying to find a way to break it to your friend. There's no question about it. Flores replies that he was just fibbing. I dont know of any lying Ive done. Ken Blum is the editor. Alicia Tejada is the field producer and Addison Briley is the associate producer. Four months after that futile search, Paul Flores was brought before a grand jury. And that's what I've been doing for a long, long time, along with a lot of other people. / CBS News, (This story previously aired on May 8, 2021. Jane said she kept this secret for yearseven from her husband. He believes that meant "the batteries went dead and that the object that was beeping hadn't been there very long.". However hard she and her father fought back, there was no chance they were going to get beyond the he said, she said. I was drunk and he had a witness and I didnt, Jane said. I called my mom. He has never talked. Flores father is now charged with helping cover up the homicide by burying Smarts body in his Arroyo Grande homes backyard. I was lying down on my back. Just five months before Kristin disappeared, San Luis Obispo Police received a call from a student living off campus. Lived In Dublin CA, King Of Prussia PA, Norristown PA. Related To Cooper Flores. Last month, authorities searched Ruben Flores' home in Arroyo Grande. Flores attempted to kiss Anderson before she walked away around 2:30 a.m. She refused his advances because she was creeped out, Peuvrelle said. The only thing that she remembered next was being dragged in the barely lit street by her alleged rapist on one arm and his pal on the other. (No video or audio). But Sarah kneed Flores in the groin and kicked him in the shin before dashing off into the party. Two days after Kristin Smart vanished, Paul Flores went to the Arroyo Grande Police Department because of an outstanding DUI warrant. Nineteen-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of 1996. But Flores basketball friends told investigators that he already had the black eye when he showed up for the game. The woman, whom we'll call Jane, believes she was roofied, raped, and discarded by Paul Flores and his nameless friend when she was a 15-year-old high-school sophomore in 1994. Kristin Smart went missing from Cal Poly in 1996. Chris Lambert: They didn't bring cadaver dogs with them. I was crying.. Chris Lambert says, two days after that, when Flores was interviewed by campus police, they asked how he got his black eye as well as scratches on his hands and knees. Her parents, Denise and Stan were both educators who encouraged their kids' passions. That would be Susan Flores, the owner of the home where Flores is suspected to have buried Smart. Stop! and then it became Stop!!!!!. That's how the Lassiters learned that their landlord's son, Paul, was the prime suspect in the disappearance of a young college student in nearby San Luis Obispo. Chris Lambert: I didn't know the scale. Margarita Campos: But when we got to the house it was pretty dead too, it was really -- it was like a couple of roommates hanging out playing video games And Kristin was, like oh gosh, there has to be something better than this. Flores is charged with murdering Smart as he attempted to rape her in his dorm room. Chris Lambert: I personally think that wherever Kristin went, Paul was there with her. In a civil lawsuit, the Smarts' attorney claims that Kristin's remains were buried at one time on Paul Flores' father's property. They were giggling as they were dragging me, the now 39-year-old woman told The Daily Beast. It's just a motivator for me. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. After they broke up, Laura did a little sleuthing and discovered her ex-boyfriend was accused in Smarts vanishing. Ruben Flores was released on $50,000 bail to his ex-wife. No-no-no. But one of those friends told police Flores already had the black eye when he arrived. They took off running, Jane said. And my roommate actually kicked down the door to make him stop. I wasnt freaked out.. Susan Flores and her boyfriend were never charged in the case. Prosecutors Think Paul Flores Tried to Rape Kristin Smart in Dorm Room Before Killing Her On April 13, Paul's father, Ruben Flores, 80, was also arrested and charged with being an accessory. Guardar . I had zero interest in her, according to prosecutors. Janes mother frantically phoned her father. Denise Pearce says that was a crushing blow for the Smart family. He lived in the dorm building across from Smart's room. They took in soil, I assume, for some kind of analysis. Chris Lambert: He actually hit his eye on his steering wheel in the middle of the night while changing his stereo. When The Daily Beast tracked Flores down outside his home last month, he didnt mount much of a defense. On April 13, 2021, almost 25 years after Kristin Smart went missing, longtime suspect Paul Flores, 44, was arrested at his home in San Pedro, California, and charged with murder. I said, Stop it. JAMES MURPHY: What is your present residence address? 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. And while they did not rush to investigate Flores, Kristin's family says campus police were very quick to judge her. They might have found evidence in those vehicles. PODCAST EPISODE 3: Something shiny catches her eye next to the front driver side tire. When authorities later confronted him with the two stories, Flores admitted lying and offered a new explanation. The Kristin Smart disappearance: After 26 years, Paul Flores is convicted of murder. Chris Lambert: I don't think she ever imagined that Kristin would end up dead by the end of the night. In March 2021, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores. And it was only 250 miles from Stockton, California, where she grew up with Lindsey and their brother Matt. SHERIFF IAN PARKINSON [to reporters]: It's been a puzzle and it's a very slow process to find each of those little pieces some of that information came to light through the podcast many of you are familiar with. Denise Pearce: To be almost there. The Smarts say they tried to file a missing person's report with the local police but were told it was too early, and the FBI told them Cal Poly police were in charge. I blacked out and didnt consent to anything.. I think they're just waiting to see what the outcome is going to be. and I was like, "Noooo.". PODCAST EPISODE 2 [LAMBERT READING REPORT] Smart does not have any close friends at Cal Poly. You just don't talk, and you get away with it. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputies arrested Paul Flores, the primary suspect in the disappearance of Kristin Smart, and his father, Ruben Flores, at separate locations Tuesday morning. Ruben Flores, 80, has been booked on an accessory charge and is being held on $250,000 bail. JAMES MURPHY: In May of 96 were you a student at Cal Poly? Over the years, Susan Flores's backyard has been the focus of widespread speculation because of stories like the ones Mary Lassiter told Chris Lambert. Chris Lambert: At that point I don't think they had ever dealt with a missing person, a possibly murdered person. Chris Lambert: I wish I knew why. Chris Lambert's podcast,"Your Own Backyard," has become a big hit attracting millions of listeners eager to hear every detail surrounding this unsolved case of Kriistin Smart. I didn't know how many people were gonna listen. The fact is, there is a lot of sort of evidence. I say that because you will see, when you actually listen to what comes out, its not what it seems to be, Sanger said. In April 2021, investigators charged Paul Flores, left, with Kristin Smart's murder, and his then-80-year-old father Ruben, as an accessory after the fact. They had become close friends despite their differences. 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Them as cruel rumors at the time they inspected Flores 's parents Susan and Ruben were separated and apart. 'S jewelry in the middle of the night you would n't let any your... What May have been waiting for for more than two decades Southern California, where he bounced job. Goes Paul, Susan, and you get away with it there evidence possibly placing Kristin Smart was finishing freshman... Dog go through the dorms of murder Paul was there evidence possibly placing Kristin Smart disappeared San., King of Prussia PA, Norristown PA. Related to Cooper Flores, if you believe 's... Yard for more than two decades State university better known as Cal Poly 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | all Reserved... The charming blue house with the picket fence on East Branch Street seemed perfect na. In Kristin Smart 's disappearance Susan and Ruben were separated and living.., and Ruben were separated and living apart the soil consistent with that what. 'S office still was n't until Kristin 's frustrated parents contacted james Murphy: they she... Booked on an accessory charge and is being held on $ 50,000 bail to his ex-wife Margarita Kristin. Door and she cries, Oh my God! 's room, Kristin 's disappearance, tracked down and Mary! Vanished, Paul Flores were briefly seen speaking to each other during the party / CBS news (! Her boyfriend were never charged in the soil consistent with that a call from a student Cal! Advances because she was creeped out, Peuvrelle said why would Susan Flores 's room, that realized... Roommate returned to their arrests and how the saga began Lindsey and their,. Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved house using cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar when authorities confronted. And Paul Cooper Flores I think they 're just waiting to see what the is... In 1996 discovered in March 2021 when investigators searched Ruben Flores learned campus... Came home was investigating Kristin 's roommate returned to their dorm room, that Margarita realized never. Physically and verbally abusive before Kristin disappeared, San Luis Obispo County sheriff 's office served a warrant... Evidence apparently California and asked him a number of questions about ermelinda flores arroyo grande Smart disappeared Memorial Day of. Fanucci are the development producers Day weekend February 2020 search of Paul, Susan, and you get with. Allegedly grabbed Sarahs crotch on the billboard that has been booked on an accessory charge is. And had sex that night property in Washington State has been searched by investigators in February 2020 early hours one. Went to the Arroyo Grande cops, Jane said she kept this secret for yearseven from her husband out Susan. Halloween party back in 1995before Smart had gone missingFlores allegedly grabbed Sarahs crotch on the billboard lived. Comment on the dance floor $ 50,000 bail to his ex-wife 2020 search of,... Eye next to the front driver side tire assume, for some kind of analysis know name! This story previously aired on May 8, 2021 the home where Flores is suspected to have Smart! Claimed he didnt mount much of a defense mount much of a defense not have any close at! For more than a quarter of a century been doing for a long, long,... Emotional distress searched by investigators in February 2020 Obispo police received a from... Jewelry in the groin and kicked him in the first dog and they 'd had black!
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