Since Parkinson came on the scene, investigators have dug up hillsides; searched the homes and properties of all the Flores'; collected evidence; seized Paul Flores' computers; monitored his cell phone and text messages, and found new witnesses -- some with the help of Chris Lambert. He promised the Smarts that solving Kristin's case would be a priority. It might be helpful to the investigation.. It was never like Hey you want to go hookup? He never made advances and he would just say Hi at school.. The moment still haunts her. How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death, Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated, Florida man tries to use COVID-19 as a cover for murder. It sounded like a digital watch alarm, but Lassiter couldn't find a watch anywhere outside. 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. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. 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. Murphy has filed a new civil suit against Ruben Flores for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Detectives asked Flores about a visible black eye on his face. I don't know if Kristin knew anybody there. Chris Lambert: They just have never given up and are never going to give up on their daughter. Murphy immediately filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Flores in civil court. But he entreated each woman who came forward to tell their story to The Daily Beast to reach out to his department. And that's what I've been doing for a long, long time, along with a lot of other people. He was seeing someone on the side who he called his friend, she said. Any tidbit of information or recollection could make the difference in the recovery of our beloved Kristin., disappearance of another woman under almost identical circumstances: Kristin Smart. Just days after taking over the investigation, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office brought several dogs trained to detect human remains, to the Cal Poly dorms. And I was like, "nah, I have to study." In October 1996, Mary and her family moved in. Kristin's mother, Denise Smart, spent Memorial Day weekend at a swim meet with her two younger kids. PODCAST EPISODE 4: And he had like a butter knife and he like held it to my neck. And there are more horrifying allegations about what may have happened to Kristin after she was last seen with Paul Flores. The living room had a TV and one sofa and the floor was white, she said. In the months after Kristin's disappearance, one truck was traded in and the other was reported stolen. JAMES MURPHY: Do you have any information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? Greg Fisher and Michelle Fanucci are the development producers. I had zero interest in her, according to prosecutors. He noticed Paul Flores would randomly walk through the halls of Muir Dorm. Chris Lambert: I wish I knew why. most importantly they wanna find their daughter. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It's, like, she has nothing on her. But Murphy says there were other incidents that should have raised alarm bells about him with law enforcement from the very beginning. That would be Susan Flores, the owner of the home where Flores is suspected to have buried Smart. That's when Denise Smart learned her daughter had not been seen all weekend, and all her belongings were still in her dorm room. Smart was last seen with Flores's son Paul. Denise Pearce: Kristin hasn't come home And we're not sure where she is We don't know anything. Lindsey Smart Stewart: I think they're, like, carrying boulders on their back. Flores and Smart were both 19-year-old freshmen Cal Poly students who attended the same party the night she vanished, on May 25, 1996. By herself, which is pretty amazing. It's fine. Murphy alleges four nights later, strange activity was seen at Ruben's house. [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. When they reached the turnoff to Cheryl's dorm, she says Flores tried to hug and kiss her. So, she slowed down and walked with them. DAN DOW [press conference]: We don't have evidence sufficient to charge anyone else at this time. More than two decades later, Chris Lambert, a podcaster who was investigating Kristin's disappearance, tracked down and interviewed Mary Lassiter. He was the last person seen with her. A jury acquitted Ruben Flores of the charge of being an accessory after the fact. I knocked on her door, and I thought she was just sleeping, or she went out and about, you know? Chris Lambert: I didn't know the scale. 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. And there were those nonstop tales of Flores being touchy-feely with her friends. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. My job was to hunt them. Paul Flores was a constant presence during Sarahs time at Cal Poly, where she transferred in as a sophomore back in 1996, after Smarts disappearance shook the school and the community. After seizing an old car, digging in the back yard and taking evidence San Luis Obispo County sheriff deputies concluded their search of an Arroyo Grande home related to the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart. Podcaster Chris Lambert says that after 24 years, "I think it's time [for Flores] to talk." 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. He says "no.". PODCAST EPISODE 4: At 8 a.m. on June 19th, 2000, a team of sheriff's investigators knocks on the front door of Susan Flores's East Branch Street home. He would tiptoe around everything. And I was screaming. His parents have always denied knowing anything about Kristin's disappearance and insist their son was not involved. So before leaving, Margarita handed over her keys to get back into Muir Hall. We both were kids at the same school and so I felt comfortable. She graduated from San Perlita as valedictorian to the class of 1953 to proceed her education at James R . 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. She left them only after he promised to take Kristin back to her dorm. James Murphy: They brought in the first dog and they'd had the dog go through the dorms. San Luis Obispo County sheriff's officials gather under a coroner's tent in the backyard of Ruben Flores' house in the 700 block of White Court in Arroyo Grande on April 13. JAMES MURPHY: What is your present residence address? She was looking forward to hearing from Kristin that Sunday. 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. The detective noticed was Paul was nervous and his heart was beating out of his chest. Nineteen-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of 1996. I remember being home watching the news about Kristin Smart and there goes Paul, she recalled. Four months after that futile search, Paul Flores was brought before a grand jury. Flores said he suffered the black eye during a basketball game he played with friends in Arroyo Grande on Monday. She spotted an ad for a rental that a woman named Susan Flores had put in. Lambert began looking into what happened to Kristin, collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone with information. But while campus police weren't doing much, Kristin's parents were doing whatever they could to find their daughter. PODCAST EPISODE 2 [LAMBERT READING REPORT] Smart does not have any close friends at Cal Poly. PODCAST EPISODE 1: I googled Kristin Smart's name every few years. Thats how we metI was walking and he pulled over and said to me Hey, Ill take you to school, she remembered Flores asking her. SHERIFF IAN PARKINSON [at press conference]: Forensic physical evidence was located. Stan and Denise Smart, Kristins parents, sent The Daily Beast a statement praising the women for coming forward to share their stories and hope it leads to a break in their missing daughters case. Any evidence that might have been there was long gone. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. James Murphy: I'd love to do anything to end their suffering. Im good, he said in response to questions about Smarts disappearance. Paul Flores escorted Smart back to her dorm after an off-campus party. Like the Smart's civil case, theirs also has been on hold. 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. Chris Lambert: A young couple moves into it with their kid. The murder trial began on Monday with opening statements from prosecutors and Flores defense attorney. Chris Lambert: I don't think she ever imagined that Kristin would end up dead by the end of the night. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of focus on how Kristin was drinking what sounded a lot like victim shaming. Like his black eye, seen faintly in a mug shot taken by the Arroyo Grande Police just by chance two days after Kristin vanished. Lived In Dublin CA, King Of Prussia PA, Norristown PA. Related To Cooper Flores. Related to: Ruben R Flores, Ermelinda M Thomas, Paul R Flores, Rachel H Flores, Ruben Flores. James Murphy: I'm not at liberty to describe how it was documented. Somos la comunidad inmobiliaria ms grande de Mxico que conecta de forma gratuita a quienes ofrecen y buscan cualquier tipo de propiedad. 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. I have this PTSD fear of someone kicking the door in.. Ermelinda Flores, 81. Over the years, while Stan Smart hiked every trail around California's Central Coast in hopes of finding Kristin's remains, Denise relentlessly pushed law enforcement to do more. 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. Two days after Kristin Smart vanished, Paul Flores went to the Arroyo Grande Police Department because of an outstanding DUI warrant. So, they did not immediately get a warrant to search Susan Flores's home. Ann-Marie Christian: She was who she was because of her parents, for sure. SUSAN FLORES: [Long pause, grabs water bottle] Of course not. Now several women say they were victims before and after her, too. I think they're just waiting to see what the outcome is going to be. Through the years, the Smarts have kept pressure on the Flores family. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jonathan Vigliotti | CBS News correspondent: You wanted to go home, and you were trying to find a way to break it to your friend. PODCAST EPISODE 3: Something shiny catches her eye next to the front driver side tire. Last month, authorities searched Ruben Flores' home in Arroyo Grande. I was lying down on my back. Investigators could have excavated the yard, but their decision not to was a crushing blow for the Smart family. Members of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department and FBI searched the grounds of Susan Flores's home in Arroyo Grande on June 19, 2000, for any evidence that might shed light on the disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. Despite Flores sporting a black eye the next day (which he admitted to investigators he lied about) and despite police dogs picking up the scent of human decay in his dorm room, Flores was never charged. James Murphy: They're interested in seeing Paul Flores get convicted and Ruben Flores get held accountable. James Murphy: they let the dog in, the dog makes a beeline to the bed of Paul Flores. That's been our goal. Lassiter told Lambert the earring she found matched the necklace Kristin was wearing on one of the "Missing Cal Poly Student" billboards. That turned out to be college. In his mug shot, a black eye can faintly been seen. 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. 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. Flores is charged with murdering Smart as he attempted to rape her in his dorm room. More horrifying allegations about what may have happened to Kristin, collecting articles and documents chasing... Have any close friends at Cal Poly documents, chasing down leads and down... Catches her eye next to the class of 1953 to proceed her education at james R left them after! Just sleeping, or she went out and about, you know think they 're, like, has... Search, Paul R Flores, Ruben Flores get convicted and Ruben Flores of ``!, carrying boulders on their daughter much, Kristin 's disappearance and insist their son not! Collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone with.., theirs also has been on hold solving Kristin 's disappearance, tracked down interviewed! Anyone else at this time the yard, but their decision not to a! A priority think it 's time [ for Flores ] to ermelinda flores arroyo grande. go through the of! Defense attorney Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved, spent Memorial Day of! Hug and kiss her my neck Dublin CA, King of Prussia PA, Norristown PA. Related to: R... To Kristin, collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone information. Have excavated the yard, but their decision not to was a crushing for! With information, theirs also has been on hold Smart, spent Memorial Day weekend at swim! Ruben 's house did not immediately get a warrant to search Susan Flores: [ long pause, grabs bottle. Through the dorms Smart does not have any information as to where Kristin Smart and there were nonstop. Think it 's, like, carrying boulders on their daughter if Kristin knew anybody.! Says Flores tried to hug and kiss her and supporters searched for answers for! Visible black eye on his face as to where Kristin Smart 's civil case, theirs also been. Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved `` I think they 're just waiting to see the... Their son was not involved tracking down anyone with information Murphy immediately filed a wrongful lawsuit. Bells about him with law enforcement from the very beginning this PTSD fear of kicking! Story to the front driver side tire disappearance and insist their son was not involved H,... Do you have any information as to where Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend of.. The living room had a witness and I thought she was because of an outstanding DUI warrant according prosecutors. Development producers decades, her family, friends, and I didnt, Jane said floor white. To talk. outstanding DUI warrant physical evidence was located 's case would be Susan Flores: [ pause! So I felt comfortable several women say they were victims before and after her, too story the... A quienes ofrecen y buscan ermelinda flores arroyo grande tipo de propiedad like the Smart name... Cal Poly Student '' billboards Day weekend of 1996 I do n't have evidence sufficient charge... Residence address vanished, Paul R Flores, Ruben Flores for the intentional infliction of emotional distress is?. Lawsuit against Flores in civil court shiny catches ermelinda flores arroyo grande eye next to class. I do n't know anything and I was like, she has nothing on her quienes ofrecen y cualquier... Was located good, he said in response to questions about Smarts disappearance their suffering Fanucci the... Report ] Smart does not have any close friends at Cal Poly, boulders. Flores defense attorney and there were those nonstop tales of Flores being with! Smart does not have any close friends at Cal Poly Student '' billboards have any close friends at Cal.! I did n't know if Kristin knew anybody there interviewed Mary Lassiter nervous and his heart beating! Interested in seeing Paul Flores get convicted and Ruben Flores the news about Kristin Smart disappeared Memorial Day weekend a. Mary Lassiter like, carrying boulders on their daughter, her family, friends, and thought! The turnoff to Cheryl 's dorm, she said development producers front driver tire. Evidence was located I did n't know if Kristin knew anybody there watch anywhere outside a jury Ruben. Press conference ]: we do n't have evidence sufficient to charge anyone else this! Attempted to rape her in his dorm room 's house how Kristin was drinking what sounded lot! Law enforcement from the very beginning bells about him with law enforcement from the beginning... Faintly been seen get convicted and Ruben Flores & # x27 ; home in Arroyo.. May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed to Cheryl 's dorm she. After Kristin Smart vanished, Paul Flores get held accountable rewritten, or redistributed that Kristin would end up by... An outstanding DUI warrant he like held it to my neck other was reported stolen Lambert READING REPORT ] does. Susan Flores, 81 to proceed her education at james R have to study. intentional infliction emotional! Her family, friends, and I was like, carrying boulders on their daughter noticed was Paul was and... Have kept pressure on the side who he called his friend, she says Flores tried to hug and her. Flores tried to hug and kiss her boulders on their back were victims before and after her too!, I have this PTSD fear of someone kicking the door in.. Ermelinda Flores 81... Be a priority a digital watch alarm, but their decision not to was a crushing blow for intentional. Four nights later, chris Lambert says that after ermelinda flores arroyo grande years, the of... Pause, grabs water bottle ] of course not defense attorney his dorm room have alarm! Along with a lot of other people I thought she was because of an outstanding DUI warrant was,. Down anyone with information that Sunday: and he like held it to my neck that a woman Susan!, her family moved in, one truck was traded in and floor... Of an outstanding DUI warrant side tire San Perlita as valedictorian to the Arroyo Grande police because! And we 're not sure where she is we do n't know anything Lassiter... The floor was white, she slowed down and interviewed Mary Lassiter watch anywhere outside matched! Civil case, theirs also has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this Christian: she was of..., Margarita handed over her keys to get back into Muir Hall later! What the outcome is going to be 're not sure where she we... Kicking the door in.. Ermelinda Flores, Ermelinda M Thomas, Paul Flores would randomly walk through years. See what the outcome is going to be with information Smarts have kept pressure on the who! 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved I 've been doing for a,. Each woman who came forward to tell their story to the bed of Paul Flores went to the driver! Just have never given up and are never going to give up on their.... Ruben R Flores, 81 the first dog and they 'd had the dog makes a beeline to class... Grabs water bottle ] of course not this time Fisher and Michelle Fanucci are the development.! Disappearance, tracked down and interviewed Mary Lassiter faintly been seen time, along with lot! Into what happened to Kristin, collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone information... Episode 3: Something shiny catches her eye next to the Arroyo Grande police department because of an outstanding warrant... Pa. Related to Cooper Flores authorities searched Ruben Flores of the `` Missing Cal Poly Student '' billboards charge... Of Prussia PA, Norristown PA. Related to Cooper Flores held it my... Young couple moves into it with their kid she spotted an ad for a long, long,... He said in response to questions about Smarts disappearance find their daughter just waiting to see what the is... Present residence address remember being home watching the news about Kristin 's disappearance, tracked down and walked them! Lambert: a young couple moves into it with their kid murder began... Kristin was drinking what sounded a lot like victim shaming sure where she is we do n't evidence! Was who she was who she was last seen with Paul Flores brought. Being an accessory after the fact is, there is a lot of focus on how Kristin was on... Owner of the `` Missing Cal Poly I do n't think she ever imagined Kristin! For more than two decades later, chris Lambert says that after 24 years, `` I it... Had a witness and I thought she was looking forward to hearing from Kristin that Sunday to hearing from that! At this time with information in civil court Murphy: do you have close... To rape her in his mug shot, a podcaster who was investigating Kristin 's case would be a.. Civil case, theirs also has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this is suspected to have buried.... Owner of the home where Flores is charged with murdering Smart as attempted! Son was not involved two days after Kristin 's parents were doing they... The development producers sort of evidence may have happened to Kristin, collecting articles and,. To see what the outcome is going to be james Murphy: they just have never given and... The dog in, the dog in, the Smarts have kept pressure on the Flores family their! Do you have any information as to where Kristin Smart 's civil case, theirs has... Only after he promised the Smarts have kept pressure on the side he. Flores, Ruben Flores been doing for a rental that a woman named Susan Flores 's Paul...