No one could have imagined that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Kristin Smart would be killed without a trace on May 25, 1996. After all, she was declared legally dead in May 2002, but it wasn't until March 2023 that she was finally cleared for good. It was Paul Flores' conviction, but here's what we know so far.
Ruben Flores, who is he?
Ruben was arrested on the severe accessory charge following the fact in the nearly 26-year-old cold case of Kristin, on April 13, 2021. Both were merely charged due to the substantial circumstantial evidence against them, although the former was charged with sexual assault but the latter directly faced one count of murder.
According to rumors, Paul was one of the last people to see Kristin alive at around 2 am on the horrific day after she was passed out on the lawn after a party. He then allegedly walked her as far as his dormitory before allowing her to return to her particular dorm by herself, only to be seen or heard from again — in fact, her body is still missing. Therefore, the matter went horribly cold until April 2020.
The authorities first executed a search warrant at Paul's San Pedro, California, just in case it would lead to another man's execution in March 2021, and there were numerous suspicious aspects discovered. The body of a then-19-year-old victim had been buried under Ruben's house for years (posibly since 1996 itself), yet it had recently been removed.
Ruben Flores: What Has Happened to them?
The prosecution against Paul and Ruben was brought against them after both hearing the testimony on July 18 and were found guilty of crimes until October 18.
Ruben vehemently stated in a press conference following his acquittal: "All that they claim is evidence, and there is no evidence against anyone, me, or Paul," he added. "It's too bad that sometimes the system works on feelings rather than facts, but I am relieved about myself."
Ruben went as far as to say he sympathizes with the Smart family, saying, "I didn't do nothing." While his defense counsel said his client intends to go back home and "rebuild a deck that was damaged in a search that was ultimately unsuccessful."
