# Paul Flores and father Ruben trials begin for murder of Kristin Smart (Paul convicted, Ruben aquitted, 10-18-22) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166 "2022-07-18T20:32:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/1 "2022-07-18T20:32:24Z")
Hey it only took 26 years! Kristen Smart disappeared May 25, 1996. Paul Flores has always been the main suspect. The father is charged for helping hide the body. The case was badly bungled at the beginning. It had largely been forgotten until Chris Lambert started the _Your Own Backyard_ podcast. His investigation renewed interest in the case. _Dateline_ featured it a few years ago. **I plan to follow the trial testimony and will comment in this thread.** Catch up on the case: **1.** [Murder of Kristin Smart - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Kristin_Smart) **2.** [Paul Flores: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know](https://heavy.com/news/2020/01/paul-flores/) Podcast: [‎Your Own Backyard on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-own-backyard/id1480263708) Site: [Kristin Smart Case: Paul Flores and Father Ruben on Trial](https://people.com/crime/kristin-smart-body-missing-suspect-father-trial/) > [@](#): > > Even though prosecutors still do not know where Smart’s body is, they are confident the evidence they have gathered over the years allegedly shows that Paul did, in fact, murder Smart. > > Since 2011, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, investigators have collected more than 140 “new items of evidence,” searched nine separate locations, served 18 search warrants, resubmitted 37 pieces of evidence from the investigation’s early stages for more-current DNA testing and conducted 91 face-to-face interviews, _The Tribune_ reported. > > Four cadaver dogs alerted authorities to the scent of a dead body near the bed in Paul’s dorm room, prosecutors said in a preliminary hearing in 2021, [the Associated Press and CBS Sacramento](https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2022/07/17/prosecutors-try-to-prove-1996-killing-with-body-missing-in-paul-and-ruben-flores-murder-trial/)reported. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/2 "2022-07-19T12:37:23Z")
Opening arguments. I’m still searching for Live coverage of the trial. The group on Reddit has followed this case for years. They’ll have some great threads. > **[Guilty or not guilty? Attorneys lay out cases in Day 1 of Kristin Smart...](https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article263575323.html)** > > The trial against Paul and Ruben Flores kicked off Monday at Monterey County Superior Court. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/3 "2022-07-19T20:09:05Z")
> Even though prosecutors still do not know where Smart’s body is, they are confident the evidence they have gathered over the years allegedly shows that Paul did, in fact, murder Smart. Question: how may people on the internet will misuse “corpus delecti” to say he can’t be convicted? > [@Ignio Montoya](#): > > I do not think it means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/4 "2022-07-19T20:17:16Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Question: how may people on the internet will misuse “corpus delecti” to say he can’t be convicted? - What _does_ it mean? I always thought “delicious body”. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/5 "2022-07-19T20:24:37Z")
A lawyer can do better but it is basically the body of evidence that a crime was committed - not physical victim’s body. So if your wife goes missing and there is no evidence of a crime but rather she just ran off, there is no corpus delecti so you can’t be prosecuted. Wait, that was a horrible confusing example. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/6 "2022-07-19T20:38:42Z")
That was a funny explanation. > [@](#): > > [Wiki:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_delicti) > > _ **Corpus delicti** _ (Latin for “body of the crime”; plural: _corpora delicti_), in [Western law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_law), is the principle that a crime must be proved to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime. Pretty simple, obviously you shouldn’t be convicted of committing a crime if there’s no proof a crime occurred. As obvious as that seems, defense attorneys often ask judges to dismiss cases on the basis that the state did not provide sufficient evidence of a crime, and sometimes they win. Sometimes the corpus delecti is actually a corpse, but more likely fingerprints or bodily fluids found on a corpse, or perhaps some bullets or toxins found inside of one. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/7 "2022-07-19T21:04:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sometimes the corpus delecti is actually a corpse If the alleged crime is theft and butchery of a pig, it could even be a delicious corpse. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/8 "2022-07-19T22:14:50Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Question: how may people on the internet will misuse “corpus delecti” to say he can’t be convicted? Not since that episode of Kojak 50 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/9 "2022-07-19T23:19:02Z")
In April 2020 they busted the son for having date rape drugs and home made videos of him raping and sodomizing young women. > On February 11, 2021, KSBY reported that Paul Flores had been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, which is a felony. Why wasn’t this guy in jail for the videos? That’s less than a year and it says nothing about arrest or trial. If multiple self-filmed rape videos aren’t enough to show this guy is a danger to others and should be in jail, I don’t know what would be. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/10 "2022-07-19T23:33:11Z")
The podcasts give details about Paul’s life after Kristen’s disappearance. Several women were interviewed and claimed stallking and other creepy behavior. I don’t expect any of that to get into the trial. It does say a lot about his character. He allegedly stalked Kristin on campus. Popped up at just the right time to take her to the dorm after the party. The body was allegedly moved several times. Daddy Ruben was always a step ahead of the cops. They did find grave wax in an area under Ruben’s deck. I’m glad there’s finally a trial. It’s a circumstantial case. I’m not sure if there’s enough to convict. Depends on what gets admitted in evidence at trial. Chris Lambert researched and interviewed a lot of people for the Podcast. He’s been subpoenaed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/11 "2022-08-08T17:02:35Z")
The judge’s ruling doesn’t allow cameras or recordings. That makes it difficult to follow the trial. Chris Lambert has posted 2 short podcasts using his handwritten trial notes. He does a good job providing witness testimony. That’s more information than the news. Several students have testified about the party and seeing Kristen and Paul. Her friends made an effort to get Kristen back to the dorm safely. It’s so tragic the boy accompaning them left and went back to the party. Then the girl left and went to her dorm. Paul had insisted he would get Kristen back safely. People that organize these partys should assign a few non-drinkers to walk the students back to the dorm. Make sure people that drink don’t try to drive. Have a great party and stay safe. Imho forensics will determine the trials outcome. It all depends on proving there was a grave under the Flores deck. Show proof of decomposition. It will need to be very convincing evidence. The weekly trial summary podcasts are here. > **[YOUR OWN BACKYARD](https://www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/12 "2022-10-18T22:05:18Z")
> **[California jury finds man guilty in the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/18/us/kristin-smart-murder-cal-poly-paul-flores-ruben-flores/index.html)** > > A California jury has found Paul Flores, the man accused of the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart, guilty of first-degree murder, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office. His father was acquitted of being an accessory in a separate trial. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/13 "2022-10-18T23:13:14Z")
Good outcome for this case, although too bad about Ruben. I’m happy the jury convicted the most culpable defendant. I had/have a lot of old connections to this case. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/14 "2022-10-19T03:26:44Z")
I’ve heard (in the Your Own Backyard blog) that Flores had other incidents with women since college. No deaths but alleged sexual assualts.He’s an opportunistic sexual predator. Getting him off the streets could prevent another senseless tragedy. Thankful that Kristin’s family is finally getting justice for the horrific loss of their daughter. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-flores-and-father-ruben-trials-begin-for-murder-of-kristin-smart-paul-convicted-ruben-aquitted-10-18-22/968166/15 "2023-03-11T14:59:43Z")
> **[The man convicted of killing Kristin Smart in 1996 is sentenced to 25 years...](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/10/1162789637/kristin-smart-murder-paul-flores-sentencing)** > > Smart, 19, disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in 1996. Prosecutors maintained that Paul Flores, now 46, killed Smart during an attempted rape.