If you can believe it... Kristin Smart disappeared twenty years ago this weekend. The local San Luis Obispo media has released a new story about the disappearance here (http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article79721962.html).

We've talked about this one at great lengths. I think there's a general consensus that Paul Flores is our guilty party.

Is this the year the Smart family gets the answers they deserve?

I truly hope so.

I think Flores is definitely the guilty party and his parents know exactly what happened, too.

I posted this case to my Unsolved Mysteries page on Facebook today. Paul Flores is guilty as hell and his parents are covering for him. I believe he tried to force himself on Kristin sexually and killed her when she refused and fought back, giving him the black eye he said was from a sports mishap.

What complicates this case is that it took a week for San Luis Obispo police to fully investigate and search for evidence and for Kristin. By then, Paul had packed up everything in his dorm room, destroying crucial evidence. It also didn't help that a search warrant was never issued when a retired police officer and a renowned cadaver dog decided to go to the Flores' old residence and search for human remains. They had found what they thought was evidence of human remains, but the whole thing was dropped since this was outside of the San Luis Obispo police department's own handling of Kristin's case and further complicated matters. I hope this is the year that her family gets answers and peace of mind.

I remember a few years ago, the Kristin Smart Facebook page made an announcement that Paul Flores had just purchased a new house and actually published his home address! While I normally wouldn't condone that type of behaviour, it is a pretty sickening thought that this guy could go on to live his life and purchase a home after getting away with murder at such a young age.

I don't remember this case being featured on UM. I know it was, but I can't remember any specific details about the segment.

I don't remember this case being featured on UM. I know it was, but I can't remember any specific details about the segment.

The case was actually in a double feature segment alongside the disappearance of a Syracuse University student named April Gregory, as both she and Kristin vanished from their separate campuses on the exact same date. The Gregory case was later solved when it turned out her boyfriend killed her.

The case was actually in a double feature segment alongside the disappearance of a Syracuse University student named April Gregory, as both she and Kristin vanished from their separate campuses on the exact same date. The Gregory case was later solved when it turned out her boyfriend killed her.

If I recall correctly, I think both girls vanished within minutes of each other, on opposite sides of the country. It was a segment that looked at the issue of what happens when students go missing from college campuses.

The case was actually in a double feature segment alongside the disappearance of a Syracuse University student named April Gregory, as both she and Kristin vanished from their separate campuses on the exact same date. The Gregory case was later solved when it turned out her boyfriend killed her.

Unfortunately, that still doesn't jog my memory. I even checked the UM website breakdown of the case, and I don't remember it.

Was this featured on the "new" version of UM with Stack around 2001-2002?

Unfortunately, that still doesn't jog my memory. I even checked the UM website breakdown of the case, and I don't remember it.

Was this featured on the "new" version of UM with Stack around 2001-2002?

No, it was when UM was on CBS in the late 90's.

I posted this case to my Unsolved Mysteries page on Facebook today. Paul Flores is guilty as hell and his parents are covering for him. I believe he tried to force himself on Kristin sexually and killed her when she refused and fought back, giving him the black eye he said was from a sports mishap.

I agree 100%. There was speculation a number of years ago that Scott Peterson was somehow involved because he was a student at the same university around the same time. I don't see it. Flores had the means and what I assume to be the motive and the opportunity. It just sickens me that his parents not only know about it, but essentially helped him get away with it.

TheCars, you don't remember the April Gregory/Kristin Smart segment? Here's the UM wiki page (http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/April_Gregory)for it.

TheCars, you don't remember the April Gregory/Kristin Smart segment? Here's the UM wiki page (http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/April_Gregory)for it.

Thanks. After seeing April Gregory's picture, I remember this segment, but mostly the parts featuring April Gregory's story.

I agree 100%. There was speculation a number of years ago that Scott Peterson was somehow involved because he was a student at the same university around the same time. I don't see it. Flores had the means and what I assume to be the motive and the opportunity. It just sickens me that his parents not only know about it, but essentially helped him get away with it.

TheCars, you don't remember the April Gregory/Kristin Smart segment? Here's the UM wiki page (http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/April_Gregory)for it.

Funny, this segment came on this morning and I was watching it off and on while working. Didn't get my full attention, but both cases are very sad. April Gregory in particular, because it seems to have less traction. RE: Kristin Smart, of course, Flores did it. All of the evidence points directly to him.

I posted this case to my Unsolved Mysteries page on Facebook today. Paul Flores is guilty as hell and his parents are covering for him. I believe he tried to force himself on Kristin sexually and killed her when she refused and fought back, giving him the black eye he said was from a sports mishap.

What complicates this case is that it took a week for San Luis Obispo police to fully investigate and search for evidence and for Kristin. By then, Paul had packed up everything in his dorm room, destroying crucial evidence. It also didn't help that a search warrant was never issued when a retired police officer and a renowned cadaver dog decided to go to the Flores' old residence and search for human remains. They had found what they thought was evidence of human remains, but the whole thing was dropped since this was outside of the San Luis Obispo police department's own handling of Kristin's case and further complicated matters. I hope this is the year that her family gets answers and peace of mind.

Exactly, @1990UMfan - this is what I remember about the case from updates. Couple this with the fact that I believe his family has financial resources and have used them to hire multiple (good!) attorneys.

That said, Kristin's family can't even file a civil suit for wrongful death, because the statute of limitation is two years in CA, and Kristin was declared dead in 2002.

Totally off topic, another case that baffles me is Kristen Modafferi. I feel like the ball was totally dropped on this one. So sad.

Didn't get my full attention, but both cases are very sad. April Gregory in particular, because it seems to have less traction.

April's boyfriend murdered her, so it's a solved case at this point. Kristin is still missing.

April's boyfriend murdered her, so it's a solved case at this point. Kristin is still missing.

Oh, ok thanks. I missed that part of the segment.

April's boyfriend murdered her, so it's a solved case at this point. Kristin is still missing.

I remember the update for the discovery of April's body. It was just a text but UM played this incredibly sad music, not their traditional update music. It was the only time I remember hearing that score in the history of the show.

I've read up on the Kristin Smart case today and have no idea how the hell Paul Flores has not been arrested yet.

I even tried to think up a Devil's Advocate theory that could perceive Flores to be innocent, and I've got nothing. The only thing that could've happened is that Kristin possibly vomited and choked, and then Flores panicked and hid her body. But that wouldn't explain the black eye, the scratches, his nickname on campus as "Chester the molester", or the fact that Kristin was last seen by her friends at 10:30 p.m. that night totally sober but by 1 in the morning she was passed out on the lawn. Either she drank fast and quickly, or Flores slipped her something.

The witness accounts that I've read show that Kristin went to the party and got hella intoxicated, seemingly of her own volition. A female acquaintance of hers was assisting her to walk when she was discovered passed out on the lawn and that's when Flores happened by. It was seemingly random, but I could always be wrong.

Please in no way assume that I am saying because Kristin was intoxicated, this should have happened to her. Absolutely not the point I'm trying to make here. I think that Flores tried to take advantage of her in her near-comatose state, Kristin came to and fought him off, but he most likely raped and killed her.

Unfortunately it's just another example of justice system normalcy. You can't totally remove the sample size of innocent persons who are wrongfully convicted, and you can't remove the sample of obviously guilty parties with not enough evidence to charge and convict. More often than not that type simply got lucky. Their planning, execution and disposal wasn't superior. Criminals have to make a quick set of decisions in situations like that and some will simply connect all the dots. It will continue to happen. I'm sure they are as astonished as everyone else, particularly the one-time offenders as opposed to career types. With the career types naturally they got away with many offenses that the authorities know nothing about.

It also depends on the jurisdiction. Lots of cases, like this one, are more difficult to charge than to convict if it actually made it to courtroom.

Watching the new Las Vegas Law series I have to say the specialized networks like ID do a great job in isolating the higher profile cases and presenting them to a wide audience. The attorneys in those big cases are very skilled, for the most part. Contrast to this Las Vegas Law series, with run of the mill cases and lawyers who can be absolutely brutal, and that's being kind. I find it difficult not to laugh at some of the questioning. With situations like Paul Flores you'd have to make sure a very talented prosecuting attorney was handling it, and jury selection would be vital. From afar we may not recognize that the specific department may not be perfectly stocked in those departments at a given time, and it can play a role in the district attorney's decision making.

The most fustrating thing about this entire case is knowing that Kristen's family knows it was Flores, and they had to watch him walk away free. I don't know how they found the strength to not beat the crap out of that kid, because if it was someone I loved I'm not sure how I could contain composure. It's really upsetting to know that after all these years a warrant still hasn't been able to get a search of his property. This is one of those cases that angers me, so much could have been done...

I remember reading an article a year or so back about Paul Flores losing his job because his supervisor realized he was "that" Paul Flores and other employees felt uncomfortable around him.

Anyway, I hope the parents finally get justice because Paul Flores and his family did this and covered it up.

I remember reading an article a year or so back about Paul Flores losing his job because his supervisor realized he was "that" Paul Flores and other employees felt uncomfortable around him.

Anyway, I hope the parents finally get justice because Paul Flores and his family did this and covered it up.


That made me giggle a little inside. Thanks for that. :)

The witness accounts that I've read show that Kristin went to the party and got hella intoxicated, seemingly of her own volition. A female acquaintance of hers was assisting her to walk when she was discovered passed out on the lawn and that's when Flores happened by. It was seemingly random, but I could always be wrong.

Please in no way assume that I am saying because Kristin was intoxicated, this should have happened to her. Absolutely not the point I'm trying to make here. I think that Flores tried to take advantage of her in her near-comatose state, Kristin came to and fought him off, but he most likely raped and killed her.
I remember reading articles that mentioned that Flores was on top of Kristen at the party at one point (they both laughed it off, but she was extremely intoxicated). Flores was also hitting on girls at the party who clearly had boyfriends with them. He was looking for sex, IMO, and she was very vulnerable in her condition at the time they were last seen. I agree with your theory about what happened.

Because Paul's mom told a coworker her husband had bolted out of bed after a phone call in the early morning hours of the disappearance, I believe that after the murder Paul called his father to help him with the aftermath (likely from his dorm room). But whatever cleanup was done wasn't enough to mask the scent from the bloodhounds during the investigation.

I remember reading articles that mentioned that Flores was on top of Kristen at the party at one point (they both laughed it off, but she was extremely intoxicated). Flores was also hitting on girls at the party who clearly had boyfriends with them. He was looking for sex, IMO, and she was very vulnerable in her condition at the time they were last seen. I agree with your theory about what happened.

Because Paul's mom told a coworker her husband had bolted out of bed after a phone call in the early morning hours of the disappearance, I believe that after the murder Paul called his father to help him with the aftermath (likely from his dorm room). But whatever cleanup was done wasn't enough to mask the scent from the bloodhounds during the investigation.

Four women came forward last year to claim that Paul Flores sexually assaulted them.

Probably the most disturbing one took place two years before Kristin Smart's disappearance. While in high school, Flores apparently pulled a 'Bill Cosby' on one of his classmates. He gave her something to drink and she was passed out within minutes. She later temporarily regained consciousness for about 4 seconds with him on top of her, raping her. And then her next memory is of Flores and another male friend of his dragging her down the street while she was vomiting...the guys giggling and then complaining that this "b*tch better not throw up on me." They then dropped her off on her mother's front porch, rang the doorbell and immediately ran off.

When the victim and her parents reported this incident to police, Flores said she was drunk and willingly had sex with him. So nothing was ever done. It's believed now that if something HAD been done about this incident, Kristin would probably be alive today.

This guy is a real piece of work. Before and after Kristin's disappearance, he had absolutely no issues grabbing girls at parties on the Cal Poly campus and an attempted assault in the bathroom at one of these parties was avoided only because the girl kneed him in the groin and kicked him in the shin before escaping.

It infuriates me that this guy is not rotting away in prison. The only thing he's ever been arrested for, to my knowledge, is a drunk driving incident. He's served no time for murder, rape and attempted assaults.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/four-women-say-the-man-suspected-of-murdering-a-college-student-sexually-assaulted-them

New podcast on the case:
https://www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com/

New podcast on the case:
https://www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com/
I'm very sorry that Kristin Smart was probably raped and murdered following a frat party twenty years ago and my heart goes out to her family and friends who are seeking the truth of what transpired during those last few hours of this 19-year-old's life. What I do ask myself is how far we as a society make allowances for any licentious behaviour which leaves any person of whatever sex vulnerable to being taken advantage of by the worst predator who just happens to cross their path.

I would like to watch the following but as usual it's unobtainable. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2630580/

New podcast on the case:
https://www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com/

Thank you for posting this. I gave it a listen and the first episode is excellent! They did a great job producing this podcast and what seems like a thorough job of telling Kristin's story. I think it will be interesting to hear the rest of the episodes when they are released.

Thank you for posting this. I gave it a listen and the first episode is excellent! They did a great job producing this podcast and what seems like a thorough job of telling Kristin's story. I think it will be interesting to hear the rest of the episodes when they are released.

Part of me wants to listen to it and part of me doesn't. I know I'm going to feel extra angry listening to it because....

-We know who did it
-We know his parents helped him cover his tracks
-We know his history of sexual assaults and rapes on girls before and after Kristen's disappearance
-We know he has never served a single day in prison

Just knowing this miserable, arrogant, evil POS is a free man today without any care for the lives he destroyed is sickening beyond belief.

Part of me wants to listen to it and part of me doesn't. I know I'm going to feel extra angry listening to it because....

-We know who did it
-We know his parents helped him cover his tracks
-We know his history of sexual assaults and rapes on girls before and after Kristen's disappearance
-We know he has never served a single day in prison

Just knowing this miserable, arrogant, evil POS is a free man today without any care for the lives he destroyed is sickening beyond belief.

Oh, I agree — it’s frustrating because Paul Flores is clearly guilty and he is a giant P.O.S. But the podcast is still excellent and I’m learning a lot of stuff. It’s just really well done.

I’ll definitely listen. Paul Flores definitely did it and it sucks that he’s still walking around.

Episode 3 of "Your Own Backyard" podcast was released on Monday. I say again, this is a very interesting, very well-produced podcast and I highly recommend it.

(Note: I have no personal connection to this podcast -- I found it here and just really like it.)

As far as the info goes, yes, Paul Flores is guilty. But I never knew to what degree of creeper that he was. Also, I'm three episodes in and it seems like LE screwed the pooch a couple of ways in this investigation. It has to be so freaking hard for the Smart family to know who did this, to see him out, to know there is evidence, and to not be able to put him away.

This last episode was particularly frustrating when they brought Paul Flores in for a deposition. I believe in the right to fair representation by a lawyer, but his lawyer was an extreme d-bag and wouldn't allow Paul to give the most basic information. (Probably because he's 100% guilty.)

Anyway, I'm curious if anyone else has given it a listen yet.

Episode 3 of "Your Own Backyard" podcast was released on Monday. I say again, this is a very interesting, very well-produced podcast and I highly recommend it.

(Note: I have no personal connection to this podcast -- I found it here and just really like it.)

As far as the info goes, yes, Paul Flores is guilty. But I never knew to what degree of creeper that he was. Also, I'm three episodes in and it seems like LE screwed the pooch a couple of ways in this investigation. It has to be so freaking hard for the Smart family to know who did this, to see him out, to know there is evidence, and to not be able to put him away.

This last episode was particularly frustrating when they brought Paul Flores in for a deposition. I believe in the right to fair representation by a lawyer, but his lawyer was an extreme d-bag and wouldn't allow Paul to give the most basic information. (Probably because he's 100% guilty.)

Anyway, I'm curious if anyone else has given it a listen yet.
I would if anyone has a link?

Episode 3 of "Your Own Backyard" podcast was released on Monday. I say again, this is a very interesting, very well-produced podcast and I highly recommend it.

(Note: I have no personal connection to this podcast -- I found it here and just really like it.)

As far as the info goes, yes, Paul Flores is guilty. But I never knew to what degree of creeper that he was. Also, I'm three episodes in and it seems like LE screwed the pooch a couple of ways in this investigation. It has to be so freaking hard for the Smart family to know who did this, to see him out, to know there is evidence, and to not be able to put him away.

This last episode was particularly frustrating when they brought Paul Flores in for a deposition. I believe in the right to fair representation by a lawyer, but his lawyer was an extreme d-bag and wouldn't allow Paul to give the most basic information. (Probably because he's 100% guilty.)

Anyway, I'm curious if anyone else has given it a listen yet.

Yes and don't want to spoil it, but the alarm going off was tough to listen to.

I would if anyone has a link?



https://www.yourownbackyardpodcast.com/