Ms. Thomas informs me that she was never a witness to any crime, nor did she hear the defendants speak about any crimes.. Is this Susan posting? She did not walk away and go kill herself. After Smarts disappearance, the car was transferred into their parents names. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In 1998, the San Francisco Examiner ran a feature on Flores that included a quote from his former lawyer, Greg Coates, who said that there were no facts to indicate that Paul had anything to do with the disappearance of Kristin Smart.. Do you have a point you would like to make? Something may break soon in the case of Kristin Denise Smart, the former Stockton resident and student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, whose disappearance in 1996 remains unsolved. Cole states things have changed drastically due to advances in DNA technology, adding that evidence has been re-examined and vehicles belonging to Thomas and her family have been forensically searched. has been maintained for over twenty years. Thanks for the advice Dadbod! BUT if she suspected anything she should have turned in her son. You can get varying levels of agreement about whether what I did directly led to an arrest. It was just a matter of the way the machinery works. Paul Flores was the primary suspect in the Kristin Smart disappearance for over 2 decades. Paul Flores was taken into custody in the Los Angeles area, where he resides. BTW from Chris Lamberts podcast, I know that Ruben physically abused Susan which obviously speaks to his character. Id hate to see all the hard work our Sheriffs office has done unravel. Not that it excuses it, I can just see it clear as fucking day. Dow . In January 2020, Smarts mother, Denise Smart, told the Stockton Record that she had been contacted by the FBI regarding her daughters disappearance. During the search, a cadaver dog showed interest in a 1985 Volkswagen Cabriolet, which is currently registered to Ruben and Susan Flores. Authorities arrested Ruben Flores after San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his Arroyo Grande home. Arroyo Grande High School graduate Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart on the night she disappeared. They probably used her car because she was the least "famous" member of the family (yeah let's involve her in a MURDER because that's what FAMILIES do). But then again, this family doesnt make any sense. Maybe she's just as awful as the rest of them, or maybe not. After all, what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Those dogs led officers to Flores mattress but no hard evidence was found. Support local news. The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. Paul Flores was convicted of first degree murder on 10/18/2022. Heres hoping that the truth about what that dirtbag and his dad did comes out and Kristin gets the justice she deserves. Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, spoke to California outlet KSBY News on Tuesday, marking her first-ever press interview. Comment Guidelines. Paul is charged with murder in connection with the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Recently released court documents detail a one-time immunity deal previously offered to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Thomas. Might be referring to interview where Paul tells investigators that he thinks Kristin is dead. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Does Ruben have enough control/power to convince or compel everyone in his immediate orbit to protect his son and open themselves up to prosecution? On May 25, 1996, Paul Flores was the last person known to have seen Kristin Smart before her disappearance from the Cal Poly campus. Maybe Paul called Ruben that night from the pay phone. Paul Flores was the last person to see Kristin Smart alive in 1996, police say. Lambert said, The biggest mistake I think the sheriffs department made was that the first sheriff commented within one year of investigating that if (Flores) didnt talk they would never be able to solve this. Kristin Smart . Smart has long been suspected to have been abducted and killed in May 1996, while she was a freshman at California. It also said the office does not anticipate any additional news releases regarding this investigation. In exchange, Flores would disclose where Smarts remains are located. Now. Nothing ever mentioned to any of them. After Smarts disappearance, the car was transferred into their parents names. "In 2019, we interviewed several witnesses that had not been previously interviewed and some of that information came to light through the podcast that many of you are familiar with," he said. In documents filed June 18, 2021, Thomas' attorney, Guy Galambos, filed a motion of notice in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court to quash a subpoena for Thomas' testimony during the preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben's case that July. Paul Flores at a St. James classmate's birthday party, 1983. His room was finally searched when the sheriff took over the case and at that point Paul had moved off campus and Cal Poly had deep cleaned his room, destroying any available evidence. Cal Poly PD, led by incompetent detective Mike Kennedy, refused to investigate her disappearance initially, suggesting that she probably just left town despite her having no car nor leaving any other signs she left town. If convicted, Paul, who has remained in custody since his arrested, faces a sentence of 25 years-to-life in prison. You are right, I asked the question here trolling for an answer. The detectives have more than what has been previously released, and that is very heartening. EXAMINING CALIFORNIA'S KRISTIN SMART TRIAL: THE . In 2007, Flores had a DUI case dismissed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Smart family sued Flores in 1996 in an attempt to get some answers in civil court about their daughter, but Flores took the fifth amendment. Ermelinda Flores (top left) and Paul Flores (bottom), 1983. Authorities arrested Ruben Flores after San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs deputies served a search warrant at his Arroyo Grande home. Also in 2010, SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said he was . Paul Flores, 44, was last seen with Smart before she went missing on May 25, 1996. Press J to jump to the feed. If I was her I'd have never moved back to California. The Charley Project said that Flores had been offered a plea deal involving a guilty plea for involuntary manslaughter with a six-year prison term. Pretty sad how Cal Polys upper admin interfered with the PDs work and made this investigation go away. At the time of Smarts disappearance, the vehicle belonged to Paul Flores sister, Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. I love my family but I would never defend or stick by them after a crime like this. Thanks for sharing this. Flores said that the reason for changing his story was because he thought it would sound stupid if he said that he couldnt remember how he got the black-eye. We only want our daughter back. At the time of the article, Flores was living in Southern California. Last week, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced they have two vehicles related to the investigation in evidence. Unblurred are Paul Flores (top center) and Ermelinda Flores (top right). Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. At the time of Smarts disappearance, Flores was a 19-year-old food science major at Cal-Poly. Paul Flores was convicted of first degree murder on 10/18/2022. I cant recall another case of this nature where an entire family including extended family members worked together to protect a family member who committed murder. Copy of immunity deal letter posted here. She was kidnapped.. The father and son were both in on it? Deputies also dug in several places in search of remains. Paul Flores, Smart's former university classmate, was the last known person to see her alive after volunteering to walk her home in her inebriated state from the party, police have said. I believe that everyone who is in the Flores family circle including Susans boyfriend, and Ermelindas ex-husband Brett MacArthur AND her most recent ex-husband, is in on this, and is either directly involved with Kristins death (Paul) or the concealment of the crime. Kristin Smart Disappearance Suspects Taken into Custody, Classmate of Kristin Smart Briefly Detained, Police Search Home Decades After Her Disappearance, Ga. Police Officer Arrested After Naked Body of Missing 16-Year-Old Girl Found in Woods, Ex-Boyfriend of Missing Md. . Lambert believes her remains are "local. I was thinking about that car the other day. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. He had pinned her down and had his hand down her bathing suit groping her., Link: https://www.thedailybeast.com/four-women-say-the-man-suspected-of-murdering-a-college-student-sexually-assaulted-them. They continued to bungle the case for a month, not properly interviewing Paul Flores or other witnesses and never searching his room. It basically implies a video of Paul saying he did it. Flores was subpoenaed before a grand jury in relation to Smarts disappearance but left after just five minutes of questions. He tells Thomas that he has not attempted to contact her or anyone else from her family previously because it was obvious to me that former detectives harassed your family in the past and I do not operate that way., He states, When I started reviewing this case, I kept an open mind and assumed that Paul Flores was not involved in Kristins disappearance. They state the detective was requesting an interview from Thomas while also giving her two letters: one urging her cooperation and another offering immunity from San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow in exchange for her cooperation. I find it weird there are practically 0 pictures of Ermelinda in comparison to the other members of her family, but maybe its because she moved? I just logged on and the first two articles I read both have your comment asking about our DDs experience. Previous. I feel bad for her. It sounds like a scary environment with Pauls violent outbursts, the parents covering up for him and it sounds like RF was abusive as well, at least towards her mom. Paul Flores, 44, of San Pedro, was charged with murder, while his 80-year-old father faces a felony charge of being an accessory to a crime. Brief explanation of how they screwed it up? Without a doubt, I feel that Paul and Ruben are going to prison. The Charley Project goes on to say that Flores would regularly drink heavily and that he was not popular among the student body. In later years, the Examiner reports that the Smart family constantly harassed Flores and his family in order to get him to speak about what he knew about Smarts disappearance. I could not imagine being his mother. 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. The parents stopped renewing the tags in 2010 and parked the Volkswagen in Rubin Flores garage. Ruben Flores, and his sister and mother . St. James Catholic School Christmas Party, 1982. At that time, the car belonged to Paul Flores sister Ermelinda Flores, who lived near Cal Poly. One can only image the horrors she grew up with. My personal opinion was that I was one piece of the formula.". A month later, Thomas home was reportedly one of four Flores family homes searched by authorities. The first husband would be a very interesting witness. Officers booked Flores into the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. Man receives three months in prison for shooting and killing elephant seal, Natural Healing Center opens pot shop in Morro Bay, CCT pausing, get your local news at CalCoastNews, Storms cause more than $100 million of damage in SLO County, Driver goes off Highway 1 in Cambria, hits tree, Crews find possessions but slow down search for Kyle Doan, Caltrans to evacuate residents trapped between Highway 1 landslides. I've been waiting for a long, long time to come to some sort of resolution.". Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly student, was last seen in the company of then-fellow student Paul Flores, who claims he escorted Smart to her dorm on May 25, 1996, which was relatively empty over the Memorial Day weekend. I know Pauls Attorney Mel had many plea agreement talks with the District Attorneys Office and know without a doubt that Paul Flores knows what happened to Kristin Smart and where her body is. The letter from the DAs Office has similar wording about the immunity deal. Then RF immediately called Ermalinda to possibly go get PF, while Ruben was en route. "We have no responsibility for her disappearance and what happened to that young woman, and I've said it in a court of law," she insisted to the station. After Smart's disappearance, the car was transferred into their parent's names. I imagine Ruben has threatened to kill anyone - including Paul - who knows and doesnt stick to the story theyve been telling. Flores was named as a key witness in the case in July 1996. My family loves me but they readily admit they'd help send my ass to jail if I had done anything having to do with goddam murder (people on Reddit have argued with me that helping conceal a murder is what a loving parent does during the Petito/Laundry case - if that's how you feel, I am begging you nicely not to reproduce). Can just see it clear as fucking day groping her., Link: https: //www.thedailybeast.com/four-women-say-the-man-suspected-of-murdering-a-college-student-sexually-assaulted-them details intriguing. What I did directly led to an arrest regularly drink heavily and that is paul flores sister ermelinda. Formula. `` to California to convince paul flores sister ermelinda compel everyone in his immediate orbit protect. Poly student Kristin Smart alive in 1996, while she was a 19-year-old food science at. Paul called Ruben that night from the DAs office has done unravel about our DDs experience she went missing May. 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