Garin Sinclair: He never once turned to the Smart family and said, hey, we have an earring, we'd like to show it to you to see if it matches any of your daughter's jewelry. In the late 1990s, the. Case PODCAST | EPISODE 1: At least once a day I asked myself what are you doing? Cole reportedly testified that Ruben asked why Susan Flores, who is Pauls mother, and her boyfriend were also being swabbed when he was the only one who committed a felony. Kristin Smart 19, a freshman at California Polytechnic State University had gone to a party on Friday, May 24 , 1996 -- and has not been seen since. It was updated on October 22, 2022.). [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. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. Paul Flores was ordered held without bail Monday. Sheriff Ian Parkinson was able to confirm that forensic physical evidence that authorities believe is linked to Kristin was located at, at least two homes. Other witnesses are also questioned, but Flemmings testimony is noteworthy as he is the first to say he saw Flores and Smart together before the party. Paul Flores did not have a car on campus, so Murphy surmises he had to have had help. Judge van Rooyen objects to this assertion, though: Just because (Lamberts) been served does not necessarily mean he should be excluded, he says. But the Flores's have fought back, suing the Smarts for intentional infliction of emotional distress. It encouraged the previously reluctant to come forward. This obviously gave law enforcement new leads to follow and connect with what they already were holding close.. It is every parent's worst nightmare. 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. Paul Flores is charged with first-degree murder and is accused of killing Smart while attempting to rape her. And it was only 250 miles from Stockton, California, where she grew up with Lindsey and their brother Matt. But remarkably, the same thing happened with three more dogs. For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. Lindsey Smart Stewart: Right. Prosecutor Chris Peuvrelle asked him if he found the remains of any monkeys or ferrets or any human bodies on the property. Then, in 2011, Ian Parkinson was elected sheriff. "YOUR OWN BACKYARD" PODCAST: EPISODE 1: It's a cold and cloudy winter afternoon in San Luis Obispo and I'm retracing missing Cal Poly student Kristin Smart's last known steps. 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. Alicia Tejada is the field producer and Addison Briley is the associate producer. Chris Lambert: I remember seeing it on the news it was something scary and they were talking about it pretty regularly. Like the Smart's civil case, theirs also has been on hold. Defense lawyers have criticized the evidence used to arrest both men last week. 3. Lindsey Smart Stewart: She had traveled the world before she even made it to college. That's when Cole said Ruben asked why they would also be collecting DNA from Susan Flores and her boyfriend and Ruben told him, "They did not commit a felony, only I did.". The defense wants to suppress some of these searches, though, claiming that they were done illegally or without warrants. Three more witnesses are expected to take the stand on Thursday, including two cadaver dog handlers.___. Lindsey Smart Stewart: She definitely, like, took advantage of life, seized the day she was super ambitious and was determined you know, to find the next adventure. Kristen Modafferi: Onuma and the Briefcase. The search for Ms. Smart, who was nicknamed Roxy, took many forms. Flores was first interviewed by Cal Poly police investigators near the end of May 1996, according to The San Luis Obispo Tribune, and the Cal Poly police didnt search his room until June 10th. Ruben's attorney, Harold Mesick, dismissed the evidence against his client as "so minimal as to shock the conscience.". Margarita Campos: I was, like, "Kristin, I'm going to go back home. Cole testified that Hudson told him about Paul's statement and that she'd also seen Paul with his white pickup truck at the skateboard ramp in Huasna. By then, the semester was over and the room had been cleaned out. A lot of women felt uncomfortable around him, Flemming says. The Smart family. Chris Lambert spoke with some women who knew Flores back then. A college student at North Carolina State University, ABC 7 writes that Modafferi had received a scholarship to work and live in a different city for the summer. PODCAST EPISODE 4: And he had like a butter knife and he like held it to my neck. Jonathan Vigliotti: And that weighs on you. September 15, 2017. I don't think she went back to her dorm at all. Ruben Flores, 80, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of accessory after the murder for hiding Smart's body after his son allegedly killed her. He'd go anywhere. You just don't talk, and you get away with it. The prosecution upholds the validity of these searches, including one of Flores dorm room that was done after he moved out. That's when the campus police finally handed the investigation over to The San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office but they did not find Kristin. So, they did not immediately get a warrant to search Susan Flores's home. Lindsey Smart Stewart: I think they're, like, carrying boulders on their back. Attorney Harold Mesick said Monday that the evidence against the father was so minimal as to shock the conscience.. James Murphy: Somebody found an earring that they say was Kristin Smart's jewelry in the driveway. Man charged with 1996 murder of college student Kristin Smart. In a statement, the Smart family described a long wait for this bittersweet day.. 1 of 47. The then eighteen-year-old . So, when they were invited to a party that Friday night, Kristin was excited to go. PODCAST EPISODE 1: I googled Kristin Smart's name every few years. Chris Lambert: The only thing he would confirm on tape is that his name is Paul Flores. Cole said investigators checked out the skateboard ramp location but did not find a body. Judge denies multiple unusual requests in Kristin Smart hearing They also did not focus on Paul Flores immediately, waiting six days to formally interview him. She was never seen again and her body has not been located. Additionally, the documents include information about a March 15th, 2021 search by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office of Ruben Flores Arroyo Grande property that included ground-penetrating radar. JAMES MURPHY: Has your son ever told you that he did not kill Kristin Smart? I was afraid Id end up missing or buried someplace, she says. He also said there was suspicious staining in the soil indicative of human remains. She adds that Flores said he put Smart under a skateboard ramp in Arroyo Grande. But a massive search did not happen until she'd been gone for more than a month. They described dropping her off at the party at an unofficial fraternity house, and said that when it was over, she needed support to walk as she was being accompanied home by Paul Flores. KSBY will have more on what takes place in court on KSBY.com and KSBY News at 5 and 6 p.m. They told her Kristin had not been seen all weekend and asked if Kristin was with them. 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. He was required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. They might have found evidence in those vehicles. He gets his arm around her torso and her arm around his neck, and he's helping her walk. JAMES MURPHY: Does your son have any information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? and I was like, "Noooo.". After almost 25 years of suspicion, on April 13, 2021, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson announced the arrest ofPaul Flores in the disappearance of Kristin Smart. For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. But the judge indicated he would set a reasonable bail amount Wednesday for the father, who has health problems is currently in the San Luis Obispo jail on $250,000 bail. She and all who have worked so hard toward this day deserve nothing less.. And he leaves her to walk up this walkway. Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty of Murdering Wife and Son The sheriff's office still wasn't convinced they had enough evidence against Flores. Lambert began looking into what happened to Kristin, collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone with information. And so, she pulled me into this sort of like, "oh come on, let's socialize. Also on the stand Tuesday were another cadaver dog handler, an expert in fiber evidence and a district attorney's office investigator. Human Remains Possibly Found In Home Of Missing Woman Kristen Modafferi The county sheriffs office searched his room once more during the weekend of June 29th, when a team of cadaver dogs signaled the smell of human decay. SHERIFF IAN PARKINSON [at press conference]: Forensic physical evidence was located. As of 2021, Kristen Modafferi's case remains unsolved. James Murphy: They brought in the first dog and they'd had the dog go through the dorms. 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? Mike McHugh is the producer-editor. For the next 25 years, I did whatever I could and looked for answers wherever I could, Denise Smart told the court, according to CBS 13, a local television station. He built the home on White Court for Ruben and Susan Flores in 1991. And that's what I've been doing for a long, long time, along with a lot of other people. The 19-year-old, who is also from Charlotte and a . Axel Koester/Sygma via Getty Images The. What happens next? Det. to search on and near the Cal Poly campus. but I knew that I could try to do a small part. He says "no.". Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Three other women missing: Did Lac's husband kill before? Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. The defense claims the prosecution is wearing said color as a result of a Facebook request on the site Justice for Kristin Smart' to wear purple during a Memorial Day celebration. Kristen Modaferri Observer file Family and friends of a Charlotte woman who has been missing for nearly two decades are awaiting results after a possible break in the case came Thursday.. The Tribune said it got the public documents from the courthouse in the city 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Proof of the L.A. charges cant act as a substitute for the SLO case.. Detective in Kristin Smart case testifies human blood - KSBY James Murphy: To see them in custody was a feeling of great joy for me. She was never seen. Chris Lambert: I personally think that wherever Kristin went, Paul was there with her. Back in San Luis Obispo, the Smarts, feeling ignored by the sheriff's office, continued a relentless campaign to get them to do more to find their daughter. Please enter valid email address to continue. Jonathan Vigliotti [with Lambert outside of the the dorms]: Paul and Kristin then make their way here. Murphy and Sinclair promised the Smarts the billboard will stay until their daughter is found. The Kristin Smart disappearance: After 26 years, Paul Flores is convicted of murder 20 photos. The search for Smart did not begin until a week after her disappearance, as campus police refused to take a missing persons report from a dorm mate; the hunt only began in earnest after the student called the police and the Smart family. Griffin Cherry was her close friend: Her books are available on Amazon. Billie Eilish Explains Her Complicated Relationship With Social Media: 'I Don't Look at It Anymore', Theres no evidence of a sex crime in the charged crime (the murder case) itself, van Rooyen says. James Murphy: There has been no other suspect. On May 25, 1996, friends dropped her off at an off-campus party. Below, Rolling Stone outlines where the Smart case is now: San Luis Obispo District Attorney Dan Dow announces chargesagainst Paul Flores and his father Ruben in connection with what he calls the 1996 homicide of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Even more difficult to understand was why they waited two months to search the family home where Paul Flores was living with his father, Ruben. Cole said this was done so Lambert would include the information in his podcast during the time of the wiretap. And my roommate actually kicked down the door to make him stop. True crime podcasting is not something that particularly captivated me, Lambert told Rolling Stonelast year. Those were kind of unspoken things. Mesick declined to comment Tuesday, citing the gag order. Paul and Ruben Flores appear at the San Luis Obispo Superior Court for the first time, at which time Judge Craig van Rooyen denies Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelles request to add two rape charges against Paul, according to The Tribune of San Luis Obispo. PAUL FLORES: On the advice of my attorney, I refuse to answer that question based on the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution. Plans & Pricing ; Podcast Statistics; PowerPress Plugin . San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, via Associated Press. He had a smirk when he said it, like it was a joke, she says. Another frustration for the Smarts: at the time Kristin disappeared, investigators weren't aware that Paul Flores's parents were separated and living apart. Kristin Smart, a bright, adventurous communication studies freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, went missing May 25, 1996. Nineteen-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of 1996. The 18- year old coed from North Carolina was taking a summer photography class at the University of Califorina Berkeley when she vanished June 23rd, 1997. Witnesses said Smart was intoxicated, and Flores had said he would walk her home after an off-campus party. Chris Lambert: Around the time Kristin disappeared, they cut out planter boxes in the backyard, so they cut out big chunks of concrete and filled it in with soil. Also taking the witness stand on Wednesday was Edward Chadwell. They were soon joined by another partygoer, Paul Flores. D.A. Chris Lambert's podcast caught the attention of millions of listeners and sparked new interest in the decades-old unsolved case of Kristin Smart. Jonathan Vigliotti: And that phone call never comes. most importantly they wanna find their daughter. The next month, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office took over from the Cal Poly police as the lead investigators. Kristen Modafferi was last seen on the afternoon of June 23, 1997, at the coffee shop where she was working in the Crocker Galleria Mall in San Francisco, California. Early on, a small group of volunteers also looked for Kristin. Chris Lambert: They just have never given up and are never going to give up on their daughter. 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. The podcast, "Your Own Backyard,"has drawn millions of listeners and focused renewed attention on this decades old case. Kristen has never been found. When authorities later confronted him with the two stories, Flores admitted lying and offered a new explanation. Ruben Flores and his estranged wife Susan have always denied any role in Kristin Smart's disappearance. He says they are Ruben's ex-wife Susan and her boyfriend. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. They got to the parking lot of an apartment complex. Cadaver dogs were sent into Paul Floress dorm room. The Sheriffs Office investigators and forensic specialists assigned to Ms. Smarts case executed 18 search warrants, submitted 37 items that were collected in the early days of the case for DNA testing, recovered 140 new items of evidence and conducted 91 interviews from 2011 to 2020, the office said. They're known for being a really safe school.". Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. You wouldn't let any of your friends be drunk around him. In March, the Oakland Police Department released a statement saying that it had worked with the FBI and found no evidence indicating Durst was involved. They have not been able to proceed with the civil case while there was an ongoing criminal investigation, but that didn't stop them from following every lead and preparing for an eventual trial. Just days after she disappeared, an incident report seemed to imply that Kristin's behavior contributed to her disappearance. or even her keys. The court document was filed before bail arguments Monday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court when the father and son were arraigned. Cole also talked about his interview with Jennifer Hudson in November 2019. Jonathan Vigliotti: You look at Kristin Smart every day. Chris Lambert: Paul worked with a number of women that he made incredibly uncomfortable girls who he tried to make a pass at sexually, girls that he tried to force to kiss him. In the meantime, Paul Flores moved to Southern California, where he bounced from job to job. Please come with me." Axel Koester/Sygma via Getty Images. We just, "do you know anything about it". Lindsey Smart Stewart: It just amazes me the amount of evidence that's available, yet nothing has happened. Chadwell answered no. How 'Your Own Backyard' podcast led to arrests in Kristin Smart murder Margarita Campos: I'll never forget her shadow against the building, this apartment complex, just standing like kind of cross-armed with the long leg And she was just kind of like looking at me like, [sighs] you're really walking away now, like you're really, you're leaving? After apparently becoming intoxicated, Smart headed back to her dorm with fellow partiers Tim Davis and Cheryl Anderson. Related Stories Anyone would have been terrified if they heard it.. He was not welcome.. Investigators in Kristin Smart case serve search warrant at the home of the prime suspect's father Smart was last seen near her California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) dorm, but she. But the investigation is ongoing. He'd go through tunnels, under bridges, looking for his daughter and expecting best case scenario. From the start, investigators. When Kristin Smart disappeared, Paul Flores's parents Susan and Ruben were separated and living apart. Jonathan Vigliotti: Is there any doubt in your mind that Paul Flores is responsible for the disappearance of Kristin Smart? Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. Um, wherever we can punch holes. JAMES MURPHY: In May of 96 were you a student at Cal Poly? The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Jonathan Vigliotti: Is this a case that takes a miracle to solve? James Murphy: He lied to the police about everything. Van Rooyen saying that his release could result in great bodily harm to the public. Chris Lambert: They didn't bring cadaver dogs with them. PDF KRISTEN MODAFFERI - Federal Bureau of Investigation On day two, August 3rd, a close friend of Smarts from college, Steven Flemming, tells the court that Flores had interacted with Smart before the party they both attended prior to her disappearance. A missing-person report was filed with the campus police on May 28. So had Margarita Campos, who lived in the next room in Muir Hall. Her dorm entrance is right over here. Paul Flores was identified as a person of interest early in the case. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. October 22, 2022 / 10:10 PM The document presented summaries of why prosecutors didn't want either man to be released pending a trial that could be years away. Chris Lambert says they're cautiously optimistic. Denise Pearce: She was becoming more and more alarmed, you know? She writes about missing persons, unsolved murders, and human rights. Kristin Smart: Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong calls the Smarts. Murphy and his wife, Garin Sinclair, agreed to take the case pro bono promising to go after Paul Flores and put pressure on the sheriff's office. James Murphy: If it was, in fact, a piece of jewelry that matched Kristin's jewelry, it would have been blockbuster evidence. 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Kristen Modafferi - Unsolved Mysteries According to a county probation bail report obtained by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, "biological evidence" was found under Ruben's deck. D.A. No remains have been found. Berkeley. As they soon learned, she had ended up at a party at an off-campus house. https://www.nytimes.com/article/kristin-smart-case-timeline.html. Kristin Smarts family in 1999, three years after she was last seen walking home from a party in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Earthmovers were used in searches on and near the California Polytechnic State University campus in 2016. The investigation seemed to be hampered from the start by a series of missteps by campus police beginning with their assumption that Kristin was off having fun and ignoring worried friends who said she was missing. Ms. Smart, who was from Stockton, Calif., was a freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Nikki Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the court, said the documents were not supposed to be public. The two men made their first courtroom appearance on July 14 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, where Judge Craig B. van Rooyen denied the district attorneys motion to add two rape charges against Paul Flores, The Tribune of San Luis Obispo reported. Classes were difficult, she was trying to fit in, and she missed her family. The unsealed documents include two claims from 2011 and 2017 that Flores raped two women while they were drunk in San Pedro. How are we not all talking about this every day until shes found?, Editors picks Smarts remains have never been found, but authorities recently said they believe they know where she was buried, though they havent disclosed the location. The judge in the case has issued a gag order preventing lawyers, investigators, witnesses and others from speaking about the case or releasing documents. The authorities removed items from Paul Floress home in Los Angeles in February 2020. He later told investigators that he walked her as far as his dorm, where they parted ways. Im not going to exclude a member of the media (for doing their job)..