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Suspects in Kristin Smart disappearance plead not guilty
by Brian Melley, The Associated Press
Posted Apr 19, 2021 6:26 pm EDT
Last Updated Apr 19, 2021 at 6:27 pm EDT
LOS ANGELES A former California college student charged with murder in the 1996 disappearance of classmate Kristin Smart pleaded not guilty Monday and his father denied helping to hide the young woman’s body.
Paul Flores, 44, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing that authorities said happened as he tried to rape Smart in his dorm room at California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo after an off-campus party. Witnesses said Smart was intoxicated and Flores had said he would walk her home.
California Police Credit Podcast with Helping Solve 25-Year-Old Cold Case
19 Apr 2021
A podcast focusing on the 1996 disappearance of college freshman Kristin Smart has helped California police make arrests in the 25-year-old cold case. Law enforcement officials credit the
Your Own Backyard podcast with bringing “valuable” evidence forward that led to murder charges against the long-time suspect in Smart’s disappearance.
Chris Lambert, the host of the
Your Own Backyard podcast was credited by San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson as he announced arrests in the case, according to a report by Associated Press.
Sheriff Parkinson added that Lambert helped draw worldwide attention to the case, and brought forward valuable witnesses.
LOS ANGELES Lawyers for a father and son charged in the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart criticized the evidence used Monday to make arrests, with one saying it was so minimal as to shock the conscience. A prosecutor shot back that lawyers for Paul Flores, 44, who is charged with murder, and his father, Ruben Flores, 80, who is charged as an accessory for allegedly hiding Smart s body, had omitted significant details, though he didn t elaborate. Attorney Harold Mesick, who represents Ruben Flores, said the evidence found was ambiguous and there was an innocent explanation for what an expert concluded about what police dug up in his client s backyard.
Fox News contributor and forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden with insight on Fox & Friends First.
A California father and son charged in connection with the 1996 disappearance of 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart pleaded not guilty Monday, according to reports.
Paul Flores, 44, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing that authorities said happened as he tried to rape Smart in his dorm room after an off-campus party at California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo, 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Witnesses said Smart was intoxicated and Flores had said he would walk her home.
Ruben Flores, 80, who has denied helping to hide the young woman’s body, pleaded not guilty to a charge that he was an accessory after murder.