Still Missing CA - Kristin Smart, 19, San Luis Obispo, 25 May 1996 *arrests* #2

[CrimeAway]

Out of Ruben's 80 years, he's refused to cooperate with LE for at least 25 years. He's had plenty of chances and plenty of time. Bail is set at $250K. If he wants out he can pay bail or cut a plea and talk. He's a villain, not a victim. The Judge needs to stop with the kid gloves. MOO.

From what I know about this case, it appears that some members of Paul Flores' family have not only failed to hold him to account for his actions, but have actively assisted in downplaying some of those actions (Reuben Flores' downplaying of the 1991 assault, for example on the deposition for the Smart lawsuit). JMO

This is not productive parenting IMHO.

 

[Seattle1]

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article250784159.html

April 19, 2021

On Monday, van Rooyen also sealed from public view an affidavit submitted to the court by the prosecution opposing any change in bail. The affidavit contains “a recitation of facts, many of which have not yet been disseminated in the public sphere,” according to a sealing order written by deputy DA Peuvrelle.

At the conclusion of Monday’s hearing, van Rooyen also scheduled two routine “pre-preliminary hearings” for May 17 and June 21, and a preliminary hearing — which will feature testimony and evidence submitted in the case — for July 6.

The preliminary hearing, during which van Rooyen will decide whether the prosecution has established probable cause to justify the charges in the case, is expected to take 12 full days of testimony, van Rooyen said.

[..]

SEALED EVIDENCE DISCUSSED
Peuvrelle argued before van Rooyen Monday that Ruben Flores’ $250,000 bail was “woefully insufficient to protect public safety.”

[..]

“The excavation below his deck at 710 White Court showed damning evidence that a body had been buried in that location and then recently moved,” the report quotes Peuvrelle as writing.

Peuvrelle wrote: “Additionally, due to the evidence gleaned from the excavation, it is reasonable to believe Ruben Flores currently knows the location of Kristin Smart’s remains. Should he be allowed bail, it is a virtual certainty that he would use his freedom to continue his attempts to help Paul Flores thwart the prosecution in this case and continue to hide her remains.”

Mesick, who had not filed a motion regarding bail prior to Monday’s hearing, argued verbally for his client’s release on his own recognizance (without posting bail) and called the longtime Arroyo Grande resident “a fine, upstanding member in this community.”

[..]

The attorney also elaborated on the possible contents of the sealed affidavit.

“The evidence against him in this case, your Honor, it is absolutely — if we can even call it evidence — it is so minimal as to shock the conscience,” Mesick said.

Mesick called into question the reliability of an expert supposedly cited in the affidavit who has a master’s degree in archaeology.

 

[CrimeAway]

So how "recently" do you all think that these remains were there?

Ugh, poor Kristin

 

[cvaldez1975]

If he gets out he should have his phones tapped and a 24 hour tail

 

[Kapua]

WOW -- bombshell news!!

Replying to
@MattFountain1
On Ruben, Chris Peuvrelle says the excavation below RF's home deck "showed damning evidence that a body had been buried in that location and then recently moved." First time that's been said, I as far as I know.



7:06 PM · Apr 19, 2021·Twitter Web App

Granted, I was working and multitasking while listening to the court proceedings, but I completely missed this!! Bombshell news, indeed! I wonder what the damning evidence is... hair? DNA?

 

[Caring4Many]

Granted, I was working and multitasking while listening to the court proceedings, but I completely missed this!! Bombshell news, indeed! I wonder what the damning evidence is... hair? DNA?

It wasn’t you, they referred to these documents but didn’t state all that was in them. The defense didn’t reveal the specific pieces during the court proceeding, with the exception of Medici trying to bash the specialist and trying to say that the evidence wasn’t actually evidence.

I was more surprised to see that the he documents mention PFs sexual assault history at length but it wasn’t mentioned as a rebuttal at all. I think that speaks to the Prosecution and their willingness to be cautious in what they reveal, only releasing the minimum required in order to accomplish the immediate goal. This makes me wonder if they have cross checked PF for the times Amber Hill went missing and was found deceased. Her family really feels that he is involved which makes me curious what they know. (MOO)

It all also made me think about how if they have evidence to believe that Kristin was at White Court at some point and moved. Was this the only time? I remember that during one time (according to interviews in the podcast that were also in the media) there were cadaver dogs hitting on locations at the Branch street home. Was this also Kristin? Or was this something of hers that had touched her once she died? IMO to have the dog alert and soil samples (iirc) at the neighbors home to show trace of decomposition chemicals, I’d think it was her, not for example her clothes or PFs clothes or her watch or the key card. I really wish they would revisit Branch Street.
My wheels just don’t stop turning. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

 

[Emi]

https://www.ksby.com/news/local-new...ext-for-paul-ruben-flores-in-the-court-system

 

[Seattle1]

The defense didn’t reveal the specific pieces during the court proceeding, with the exception of Medici trying to bash the specialist and trying to say that the evidence wasn’t actually evidence.

^^rsbm
There's both a gag order and some evidence is under seal. I believe reporters were given specific content from the hearing (in the form of a table document). At least -- that's what I've seen tweeted and reported in media.

 

[Seattle1]

I remember that during one time (according to interviews in the podcast that were also in the media) there were cadaver dogs hitting on locations at the Branch street home. Was this also Kristin?

^^rsbm
I don't know if the VW cabriolet was ever at the Branch St. residence but the first cadaver dog hit I recall from decades ago was on this vehicle. I believe the same vehicle was recently removed from RF property during a search this year. MOO

A Volkswagen Cabriolet is towed away from the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores, father of Paul Flores, suspect in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart, on Monday. (David Middlecamp / San Luis Obispo Tribune photo )

3/15/21
SLO County Sheriff Searches Home Tied to Suspect in Kristin Smart’s Disappearance

 

[Caring4Many]

So how "recently" do you all think that these remains were there?

Ugh, poor Kristin

This is something I keep trying to decide how I feel in my head.
Fall of 1996 - Statements from Flores Family regarding the garbage cans at Branch Street house to the Lassiter Family. See photos at: Episode 03: Their Own Backyard — YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Garage built over initial area of interest in 1997 at Branch Street house
3/31/2007 - Anomalies found at Branch St
5/22/2007-Concrete dug up looking at anomalies at Branch St- with the exception of the 6ft x 3ft planter or the garage
6/2/2014- Buster alerted to the presence of human decomposition at the yard of the neighbors at Branch Street. In addition they collect soil at another neighbors home. (First neighbor sent them away. Permission received from a gf at the home. Bf came home & thought he would be killed if he participated) Soil is evaluated and finds trace amounts of decomposition. This means 2 neighbors yards have indicators of some form that decomp is coming from the home.
Discussed on Episode 6: Episode 06: Ongoing and Active — YOUR OWN BACKYARD
8/1/2014- Buster indicates near the planter in the neighbors yard
Discussed on Episode 6 as well.
2016- Cal Poly dig happens
1/26/2017 - Dr Vass (spelling) with the Inquisitor uses Keratin DNA to do scans for Kristin with David Smallwood. Indicates on Branch St multiple times, on the dorm and on a law enforcement outbuilding that may be an evidence building. Discussed on Episode 6 as well.
2019- Search warrants to intercept family messages
02/2020 - Search warrants on all properties
4/2020 - Search at White Court
3/2021 -Search at White Court

This all makes me wonder- is there a varying degree of decomposition that would be present in soil, on items or as an actual body? Are the chemicals/scents detectable by equipment or cadaver dogs up to a certain length?
Without understanding all of these, I think it is initially my thought that at least SOMETHING is/has been at both locations. But I wouldn't be shocked to find that Kristin was initially at Branch St only to be then moved to White Court and possibly even moved again- whether it was on that same property (avocado trees) or another location. JMO of course. I really do hope that when LE says they think they know where she is, that they do.

 

[Caring4Many]

^^rsbm
There's both a gag order and some evidence is under seal. I believe reporters were given specific content from the hearing (in the form of a table document). At least -- that's what I've seen tweeted and reported in media.

I believe the same. My guess is that the documents that were sent to judge from both sides were reviewed and it was decided what could be released and what couldn't. Just a guess.

^^rsbm
I don't know if the VW cabriolet was ever at the Branch St. residence but the first cadaver dog hit I recall from decades ago was on this vehicle. I believe the same vehicle was recently removed from RF property during a search this year. MOO

A Volkswagen Cabriolet is towed away from the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores, father of Paul Flores, suspect in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart, on Monday. (David Middlecamp / San Luis Obispo Tribune photo )

3/15/21
SLO County Sheriff Searches Home Tied to Suspect in Kristin Smart’s Disappearance

Interesting. The cadaver dog activities I was thinking about, wasn't LE, but retired LE. I had to go search it all out, I noted it above. I would not be shocked to find that the VW did hit originally though- and this was how Paul got Kristin off campus.

 

[cvaldez1975]

^^rsbm
I don't know if the VW cabriolet was ever at the Branch St. residence but the first cadaver dog hit I recall from decades ago was on this vehicle. I believe the same vehicle was recently removed from RF property during a search this year. MOO

A Volkswagen Cabriolet is towed away from the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores, father of Paul Flores, suspect in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart, on Monday. (David Middlecamp / San Luis Obispo Tribune photo )

3/15/21
SLO County Sheriff Searches Home Tied to Suspect in Kristin Smart’s Disappearance

i am convinced this was used to transport her. why have they kept it all these years?

 

[MrsWatson]

i am convinced this was used to transport her. why have they kept it all these years?

Yep, looks like it was shoved into a garage somewhere and hidden. I wonder when the last time time it was plated and insured was?

 

[Seattle1]

Yep, looks like it was shoved into a garage somewhere and hidden. I wonder when the last time time it was plated and insured was?

From the news photo I linked above, the last registration (non-operational) was 2010.

 

[CrimeAway]

This is something I keep trying to decide how I feel in my head.
Fall of 1996 - Statements from Flores Family regarding the garbage cans at Branch Street house to the Lassiter Family. See photos at: Episode 03: Their Own Backyard — YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Garage built over initial area of interest in 1997 at Branch Street house
3/31/2007 - Anomalies found at Branch St
5/22/2007-Concrete dug up looking at anomalies at Branch St- with the exception of the 6ft x 3ft planter or the garage
6/2/2014- Buster alerted to the presence of human decomposition at the yard of the neighbors at Branch Street. In addition they collect soil at another neighbors home. (First neighbor sent them away. Permission received from a gf at the home. Bf came home & thought he would be killed if he participated) Soil is evaluated and finds trace amounts of decomposition. This means 2 neighbors yards have indicators of some form that decomp is coming from the home.
Discussed on Episode 6: Episode 06: Ongoing and Active — YOUR OWN BACKYARD
8/1/2014- Buster indicates near the planter in the neighbors yard
Discussed on Episode 6 as well.
2016- Cal Poly dig happens
1/26/2017 - Dr Vass (spelling) with the Inquisitor uses Keratin DNA to do scans for Kristin with David Smallwood. Indicates on Branch St multiple times, on the dorm and on a law enforcement outbuilding that may be an evidence building. Discussed on Episode 6 as well.
2019- Search warrants to intercept family messages
02/2020 - Search warrants on all properties
4/2020 - Search at White Court
3/2021 -Search at White Court

This all makes me wonder- is there a varying degree of decomposition that would be present in soil, on items or as an actual body? Are the chemicals/scents detectable by equipment or cadaver dogs up to a certain length?
Without understanding all of these, I think it is initially my thought that at least SOMETHING is/has been at both locations. But I wouldn't be shocked to find that Kristin was initially at Branch St only to be then moved to White Court and possibly even moved again- whether it was on that same property (avocado trees) or another location. JMO of course. I really do hope that when LE says they think they know where she is, that they do.

I'm not as familiar with many of you in all the details of this case, but I will try and get up to speed.

It seems as if trace evidence of decomposition could exist in soil, clothing, or other items even if the body itself has been moved, but I am no expert!

I found a few links that might help us understand more.

Has graphic photos:
https://www.wcu.edu/WebFiles/PDFs/Human_Decomp_for_K9_Handler.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwif-crirI3wAhX9wQIHHemZAuAQFjADegQICxAB&usg=AOvVaw31AuOJGIgktheXoQmfbwtH

I've added a couple of screenshots from the first link, which is a presentation for K9 handlers from Paul Martin of Western Carolina University.

Recent advances in forensic anthropology: decomposition research

Deadly secrets—the science of decomposition

Using Plants’ Spectral Signal to Detect Human Remains

 

[Markybug]

I can see why the Flores family would not want to move from their respective homes if there is allegedly evidence on site , but why keep the Volkswagen? If it had been used for transporting Kirsten you would sell it or “ accidentally “ have it catch fire or similar?

someone mentioned earlier that it would not be posting have LE helping or covering for the Flores. Due to the number of people that would have to be involved. But what about one individual doing small spoilers on their own ? For example the earring the supposedly went missing after being handed into to LE ?

 

[Emi]

Olivia DeGennaro @OliviaDeGennaro 15h
This is a pretty huge revelation... We heard the prosecution talk about “substantial new evidence” at today’s arraignment. There have been two searches at Ruben Flores’ Arroyo Grande home in recent months. #KristinSmart
Quote Tweet

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 16h
On Ruben, Chris Peuvrelle says the excavation below RF's home deck "showed damning evidence that a body had been buried in that location and then recently moved." First time that's been said, I as far as I know.
Show this thread

 

[Emi]

[URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']Olivia DeGennaro [URL='https://twitter.com/OliviaDeGennaro']@OliviaDeGennaro [/URL][/URL]15h
This is likely where the rape accusation against Paul Flores will come into play during the trial. #KristinSmart
Quote Tweet

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 16h
Somewhat lost in today's proceedings are these statements by the prosecutor in bail reports. On Paul, he says "dozens of women have recounted (PF's) sexual assaults and predatory behavior that document his 25 years as a serial rapist."
Show this thread

 

[Kapua]

Olivia DeGennaro @OliviaDeGennaro 15h
This is likely where the rape accusation against Paul Flores will come into play during the trial. #KristinSmart
Quote Tweet

Matt Fountain @MattFountain1 16h
Somewhat lost in today's proceedings are these statements by the prosecutor in bail reports. On Paul, he says "dozens of women have recounted (PF's) sexual assaults and predatory behavior that document his 25 years as a serial rapist."
Show this thread

Thank God that the judge denied PF bail and that he is off the streets. MOO

 

[Emi]

Up & Adam in The Morning
here is the whole interview with Chris Lambert regarding Kristin's case this morning.