He said he believes they are closer to finding Kristin and investigators will continue to focus on locating her remains. Parkinson said he spoke to the Smart family on Tuesday, saying, "I think they're feeling a bit of relief, but as you can imagine, until we return Kristin to them, this is not over." Sheriff Parkinson said the search warrants are sealed so he can not discuss what evidence was found however, he said investigators have not yet recovered Kristin's remains. Investigators also searched Paul's house for the third time. A search at his home on White Court in Arroyo Grande continued Tuesday afternoon and Parkinson said it could continue into the next day. Ruben Flores was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of being an accessory to the crime.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office Ruben Flores With that new evidence, Parkinson said detectives were able to secure a court order to intercept Flores's electronic communications.Īfter that, search warrants served at Flores's home in San Pedro, his parents' homes in Arroyo Grande, and his sister's home reportedly yielded evidence for a second search in San Pedro where Sheriff Parkinson says investigators collected evidence related to the murder of Kristin Smart.Ī second search at Paul's father's home just last month also reportedly yielded evidence that resulted in a judge issuing two more search warrants and two arrest warrants - one for Paul and one for his father, Ruben. Parkinson attributed the "Your Own Backyard" podcast for bringing that new information to light. Then in 2019, they interviewed at least one new witness that had not been previously interviewed. He explained that in late 2016, investigators got ahold of evidence that identified Flores as the prime suspect in Kristin's disappearance. Sheriff Parkinson laid out the recent timeline leading to Flores's arrest. She would have been 44-years-old this past February.UPDATE (2:05 p.m.) - San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson held a press conference at Cal Poly on Tuesday afternoon to officially announce the arrest of Paul Flores for the murder of Kristin Smart.Ĭal Poly was the last place the 19-year-old freshman was seen alive nearly 25 years ago. He would not disclose what evidence was found nor which two homes the evidence was found at. Parkinson added that law enforcement found physical evidence at two homes. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office was back at Ruben’s home on White Court in Arroyo Grande Wednesday morning, where crews the day prior appeared to be digging and dismantling the back deck area as part of a search warrant.ĭuring a press conference on Tuesday, Parkinson said that while Kristin’s remains have not been found, he believes they are closer than ever finding her. His bail is set at $250,000.įollowing their arrests, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said the case had been forwarded to the district attorney’s office for review. Ruben, 88, is being held on accessory to murder after the fact. Paul, 44, is being held without bail on suspicion of murder.
The two were arrested Tuesday at their separate homes connected with the disappearance of 19-year-old Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart, who was last seen on campus on May 25, 1996.Īccording to a witness, Smart was last seen with Paul Flores leaving an off-campus fraternity party in San Luis Obispo and walking back to her dorm. They are both will be arraigned Thursday morning.
Ruben Flores is charged with accessory after the fact since he helped conceal the body of Smart after the murder, Dow said. For more than two decades law enforcement agencies have worked to bring justice for Kristin Smart," Dow said. Dow added that the statute of limitation for rape has expired, but the allegations that rape was committed or the attempt of rape is the basis for filing a felony murder charge. During a press conference on Wednesday, San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said Kristin Smart was killed during an attempted rape and Paul Flores' father helped hide her body.ĭow added that they "do have evidence in this case that leads us to conclude that there very well may be additional victims in the southern California area."ĭow charged Paul Flores with first-degree murder during the commission of attempted rape.
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