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Lambert also interviewed a woman who dated Flores until, she says, he became physically and verbally abusive. She was declared legally dead in 2002. It did produce some information that I believe was valuable, he said. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time It was updated on October 22, 2022.). Kristen Modafferi: Onuma and the Briefcase. Margarita Campos: To this day, like, I was like, why why did I just let her go by herself? Ms. Smart, 19, was a freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo when she disappeared in 1996. I was afraid Id end up missing or buried someplace, she says. Onuma was evicted from a Kaneohe, Hawaii residence after his connection to the Kristen Modafferi . The judge in the case has issued a gag order preventing lawyers, investigators, witnesses and others from speaking about the case or releasing documents. But the investigation is ongoing. In high school he was known as a loner. True crime podcasting is not something that particularly captivated me, Lambert told Rolling Stonelast year. What Chris did was take a local story and turn it into an international story. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. Please come with me." When they were deposed by James Murphy, they also insisted their son was not involved. Back in May 1996, Kristin Smart was finishing her freshman year at California Polytechnic State University better known as Cal Poly. to search on and near the Cal Poly campus. James Murphy: He lied to the police about everything. James Murphy: They brought in the first dog and they'd had the dog go through the dorms. Real Name: Kristen Deborah Modafferi Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: San Francisco, California Date: June 23, 1997 Bio Occupation: Student Date of Birth: June 1, 1979 Height: 5' 8" Weight: 140 lbs. ORIGINAL STORY - Paul and Ruben Flores are back in court Wednesday for another day of their preliminary hearing. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. They went on trial in July 2022 in Monterey County, Calif. On Oct. 18, 2022, Paul Flores was found guilty of murdering Ms. Smart. The defense wants to suppress some of these searches, though, claiming that they were done illegally or without warrants. The younger Flores has long been the only person of interest in Smarts disappearance; she was last seen on May 25th, 1996, after attending a party near campus. The prosecution upholds the validity of these searches, including one of Flores dorm room that was done after he moved out. 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. The jury hearing Paul Floress case began deliberations after closing arguments on Oct. 4. Kristin Smart went missing on May 25, 1996 while attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and has not been heard from since. She loved swimming and skiing. Chris Lambert: I personally think that wherever Kristin went, Paul was there with her. DAN DOW [press conference]: We don't have evidence sufficient to charge anyone else at this time. It's just a motivator for me. He says "no.". And my roommate actually kicked down the door to make him stop. Chris Lambert: Everything else, he took the Fifth Amendment. Then, in 2011, Ian Parkinson was elected sheriff. Everyone knew Paul (Flores) was creepy. How could she have gone out of town? Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty of Murdering Wife and Son Cole also talked about his interview with Jennifer Hudson in November 2019. After over 25 years, there is no evidence that Paul Flores committed the crimes for which there is no evidence.. D.A. I think they're just waiting to see what the outcome is going to be. We want to hear it. Ruben Flores was released on $50,000 bail to his ex-wife. KSBY will have more on what takes place in court on KSBY.com and KSBY News at 5 and 6 p.m. Smart was talking with and socializing with several different males at the party. But 22 years later, when he couldn't find any recent stories about the case, he decided to do something. In the months after Kristin's disappearance, one truck was traded in and the other was reported stolen. Because of the statute of limitations, Dow says, Paul Flores can't be charged with rape. The two are charged in connection with the death of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart. Two days after Kristin Smart vanished, Paul Flores went to the Arroyo Grande Police Department because of an outstanding DUI warrant. That warrant allowed them to dig up the backyard, but deputies chose not to excavate. Murphy alleges four nights later, strange activity was seen at Ruben's house. A jury acquitted Ruben Flores of the charge of being an accessory after the fact. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. The arrests of the father and son came after investigators using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs discovered evidence connected directly to Smarts death last month during a search at Ruben Flores home, authorities said. Peuvrelle, who said Ruben Flores has helped cover up the crime for nearly a quarter-century, would continue to do so if freed. Margarita Campos: I was a little bit more introverted and inhibited and she was like, "no, we have to go out and we have to go like live life." So before leaving, Margarita handed over her keys to get back into Muir Hall. 1 of 47. He gets his arm around her torso and her arm around his neck, and he's helping her walk. Kristin's mother, Denise Smart, spent Memorial Day weekend at a swim meet with her two younger kids. The elder Flores is charged with accessory after the fact to the crime of murder for allegedly helping Paul conceal Smarts body. PAUL FLORES: On the advice of my attorney, I refuse to answer that question based on the fifth amendment of the United States Constitution. Prior to the arrests, in February 2020, Flores home, his parents home, and his sisters home were searched by police. Podcaster Lambert will not be called to the stand during the Kristin Smart murder hearing. A very close-knit family. Kristin Smart was a 19-year-old freshman at Cal Poly, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, when she disappeared after a walk home from an off-campus party early in the. Due to the evidence gleaned from the excavation, it is reasonable to believe Ruben Flores currently knows the location of Kristin Smarts remains," Peuvrelle said. Helicopters were used to canvas the area. Chris Lambert: They're hopeful, but they've also been let down so many times before. Book Author Jenn is a lawyer-turned-author and true crime writer. He also said that law enforcement leaked information to "Your Own Backyard" podcaster Chris Lambert. Margarita soon decided she'd had enough. I don't know if Kristin knew anybody there. Margarita Campos: I was expecting her to knock on my door and be, like, "Oh, Margarita, you missed a rager. James Murphy: And it says wrongful death and then I put murder. James Murphy: I'm not at liberty to describe how it was documented. PODCAST EPISODE 4: And he had like a butter knife and he like held it to my neck. You, youre the one that can tell me, a reference to Lamberts Your Own Backyard, the podcast about Smart and Flores that has brought new attention to the case. Lindsey Smart Stewart: Right. Flores, who had been seen with Smart earlier in the evening he attempted to flirt with her and apparently fell on her at one point, according to witnesses joined the group and allegedly accompanied Smart home. But remarkably, the same thing happened with three more dogs. 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. Chris Lambert's podcast caught the attention of millions of listeners and sparked new interest in the decades-old unsolved case of Kristin Smart. The defense argued that other skateboarders who were at the San Luis Obispo location said they never saw Paul there, and Hudson's boyfriend denied ever seeing Paul in Huasna or anywhere else. And she's like, "please come with me. Lindsey Smart Stewart: "You should go to Cal Poly. Authorities made clear that they plan to use Flores' alleged predatory behavior against him. Denise Pearce: To be almost there. He wouldn't answer a single thing. 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. I didnt understand why. By herself, which is pretty amazing. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time And while they did not rush to investigate Flores, Kristin's family says campus police were very quick to judge her. But Paul Flores was never charged with any of these incidents. 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. 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. Denise Pearce: Kristin hasn't come home And we're not sure where she is We don't know anything. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. His father, Ruben Flores, pleads not guilty to being an accessory to the crime after the fact. The mother is washing her car in the driveway at one point. They got to the parking lot of an apartment complex. On Tuesday, Cole testified that Ruben clarified that he meant he was the only one of the three who had been arrested. The podcast, "Your Own Backyard,"has drawn millions of listeners and focused renewed attention on this decades old case. Anyone would have been terrified if they heard it.. Denise Pearce: The phone call never comes. Jonathan Vigliotti: How did you know she hadn't been back? But to fully understand Chris Lambert's contribution, you have to go back to the beginning. He also said there was suspicious staining in the soil indicative of human remains. Missing-person posters and billboards offering rewards appeared along roads and in other public places. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Cole said investigators checked out the skateboard ramp location but did not find a body. RUBEN FLORES: [long pause] We never asked that question. Most students had taken off but Kristin had stayed on campus. Defense lawyers have criticized the evidence used to arrest both men last week. And he leaves her to walk up this walkway. But while campus police weren't doing much, Kristin's parents were doing whatever they could to find their daughter. Specifically, that they had Paul's white Nissan pickup in their possession. He was required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. Devastating. or even her keys. Margarita Campos: Kristin was like, "come on, let's go, let's go." Kristen has facial dimples. 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. 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. He's going to find her body, which is awful for a parent. Margarita Campos: I was, like, "Kristin, I'm going to go back home. First published on November 28, 2020 / 11:10 PM. Flores, 44, was arrested Tuesday at his home, nearly 25 years after Smart left a party near the Cal Poly campus and vanished on the way back to her campus dormitory. How are we not all talking about this every day until shes found?, Editors picks And yes, we did find physical evidence at, at least two homes. 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.. PODCAST EPISODE 2: So, with Cheryl's account alone, we have an unsettling picture of Paul . But the Flores's have fought back, suing the Smarts for intentional infliction of emotional distress. In October 2022,. Anyone can read what you share. When asked about how he got the injury Flores told three different stories. She left around 2 a.m. and was accompanied by Paul Flores, who was also a student at Cal Poly. Classes were difficult, she was trying to fit in, and she missed her family. During Tuesday's hearing, San Luis Obispo County. Jonathan Vigliotti: There was a lot of focus on how Kristin was drinking what sounded a lot like victim shaming. Jonathan Vigliotti: Is there any doubt in your mind that Paul Flores is responsible for the disappearance of Kristin Smart? The search for Ms. Smart, who was nicknamed Roxy, took many forms. Two days after her daughter went missing, Denise Smart got a call from Cal Poly's campus police. Berkeley. It was first reported by The Tribune, and a reporter posted snippets of documents on Twitter. Chris Lambert: The only thing he would confirm on tape is that his name is Paul Flores. But Margarita says, the police did not seem concerned. There is no evidence of a murder and no evidence of a rape, Sanger added. Murphy and Sinclair promised the Smarts the billboard will stay until their daughter is found. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. A missing-person report was filed with the campus police on May 28. 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. PODCAST EPISODE 5: If you were making a film about a new law enforcer who's coming to a small town to save the day, you'd probably cast Parkinson. Kristen Modafferi, Kristin Smart & Kent Jacobs. He'd go through tunnels, under bridges, looking for his daughter and expecting best case scenario. Jonathan Vigliotti: What toll over time did this have on your parents? And it was only 250 miles from Stockton, California, where she grew up with Lindsey and their brother Matt. 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. Why? She said she didn't tell law enforcement about it until she talked to Det. Cole went to his White Court home to collect it on May 19, 2021. Police investigated whether Durst, 71, who lived in San Francisco at the time Modafferi went missing, was connected to her disappearance. Peterson may or may not have been at the party Smart disappeared after. On April 19, father and son each pleaded not guilty, according to The Associated Press. The next morning, Margarita waited to hear from Kristin. 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. Also included is the result of a February 4th, 2020 search of Paul Flores San Pedro home, where San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs investigators seized electronic devices that featured videos showing Flores having sex with seemingly incapacitated women. For more than two decades, her family, friends, and supporters searched for answers and for justice. Chadwell answered no. So, she slowed down and walked with them. It is every parent's worst nightmare. I've got her. That young woman was Kristin Smart, and she hasn't been seen since. It worked. Soon after her disappearance, a sheriffs search party combed remote parts of the Cal Poly campus on horseback, archival video from KCRA-TV shows. And there are more horrifying allegations about what may have happened to Kristin after she was last seen with Paul Flores. Ms. Smarts family said they had faith in the justice system, comforted in the knowledge that Kristin has been held in the hearts of so many and that she has not been forgotten.. Jonathan Vigliotti: She had just 40 yards to go and yet she vanished. And DNA evidence could not be found linking any other evidence to Kristin. DAN DOW [press conference]: The allegation against Ruben is that he helped to conceal Kristen's body after the murder was committed. Marital Status: Single Characteristics: Caucasian female with brown hair and eyes. Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo), via Associated Press. 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. I need you to listen to everything they say so we can punch holes in it. Paul Flores was identified as a person of interest early in the case. Paul Flores is charged with the murder of Kristin Smart, who disappeared from Cal Poly in 1996. All of Kristin's personal belongings including her purse, her money, her I.D. All Rights reserved. PODCAST EPISODE 1: I googled Kristin Smart's name every few years. Like so many freshmen, Kristin struggled. Whatever happened in those early hours, one thing is indisputable: Kristin Smart has never been seen again. Jonathan Vigliotti: They thought she was off possibly having fun. Flores was also in possession of Tramadol and Flexeril, known as date rape drugs. So had Margarita Campos, who lived in the next room in Muir Hall. The evidentiary hearing is underway and witnesses are testifying in front of Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen about Flores interactions with Smart. Chris Lambert was just 8 years old when Kristin Smart vanished on her way home from a college party in San Luis Obispo, California. Friday, May 24, 1996, was the start of the Memorial Day weekend. JAMES MURPHY: Your husband have information as to where Kristin Smart's body is located? PODCAST EPISODE 1: Kristin broke down begging her mother to let her drop out and go somewhere else. Books from this author. But further investigation of the Flores's two trucks seemed impossible. No remains have been found. She was gone. What's going on? Kristen Modafferi was an 18-year-old college student who was about to start a summer photography course at UC Berkeley when she disappeared after leaving work at a San Francisco coffee shop. Murphy has filed a new civil suit against Ruben Flores for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. School was over, so campus police found an empty room that had been sanitized by the university's cleaning crew. and offers to help. 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. Previously sealed documents related to the case become available to the public that explain the rape charges Peurelle attempted to add against Paul Flores. So now you've got three different stories about how he got that black eye. James Murphy: An eyewitness actually documented the fact that throughout the night that there was activity in the area of the underside of that deck. PODCAST EPISODE 3 | MARY LASSITER: It was like a red thing and it was like a smudge-like fingerprinted look on the back, just red, like maroon, like old looking and the smudge that it was like half a fingerprint. Her younger sister Lindsey says their mother urged Kristin to go there. Lambert began looking into what happened to Kristin, collecting articles and documents, chasing down leads and tracking down anyone with information. She writes about missing persons, unsolved murders, and human rights. 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. On October 18, 2022, Paul Flores was found guilty of first-degree murder. Cole testified about why investigators believe a crime was committed at Ruben's property on White Court in Arroyo Grande. He refused to answer questions during a deposition in November 1997, citing the Fifth Amendment. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nineteen-year-old Cal Poly student Kristin Smart went missing after a campus party 25 years ago, and, this summer, her case is finally getting its day in court. I told her I didn't I didn't want to go. Chris Lambert: There was a man climbing her trellis and trying to get inside her balcony, very intoxicated and refusing to leave. We just, "do you know anything about it". Proof of the L.A. charges cant act as a substitute for the SLO case.. Susan's house was finally searched in March 1997 nine months after Kristin disappeared but nothing was found. Kristen Deborah Modafferi (born June 1, 1979; disappeared June 23, 1997) is an American woman who, at the age of 18, in the early summer of 1997, disappeared in mysterious circumstances after leaving her work at the Crocker Galleria Mall in San Francisco, California. James Murphy: The podcast is out. James Murphy: Having a black eye doesn't make you guilty of anything but if the person you were with disappeared from the planet that's physical evidence. The authorities removed items from Paul Floress home in Los Angeles in February 2020. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Paul Flores, right, in court with his attorney Richard Hutton in 1996. Witness Jennifer Hudson takes the stand, where she tells the court that, in 1996, when she was 17 years old, Flores laughingly told her he had taken care of Smart. "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.