Editors note: the story was edited to restructure the paragraphs and a few language modifications were made. After a weeks long preliminary trial, it was decided this morning that Paul and Ruben Flores will be tried for the murder and accessory to murder, respectively, of Kristin Smart. Presiding Judge Craig van Rooyen said that the […]
Category: Crime
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Detective Luca Benedetti killed while serving a search warrant for stolen property
At approximately 5 p.m. Monday evening, San Luis Obispo Police Detective Luca Benedetti was shot and killed while serving a search warrant near South Higuera Street for stolen property. Detective Steve Orozco was shot as well, according to a May 11 press conference. “As the officers approached the apartment, they provided knock and notice,” Acting […]
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Man crashed car into a pillar on campus, charged with a DUI
Lazier said the driver did not sustain any injuries and the only damage to property reported was scratched paint on the pillar. CPPD Crime Prevention Operationist Frank Herrera said the department is unable to provide the name of the man, or say whether he was a student. No other information is available at this time. […]
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SLO County Court decreases Ruben Flores’ bail
The San Luis Obispo County Court on Wednesday, April 21 lowered bail by $200,000 with bail bond conditions for Ruben Flores, who is accused of accessory after the fact for the 1996 murder of Kristin Smart. Judge Craig Van Rooyen set Flores’ bail to $50,000 upon defense attorney Harold Mesick’s request to change the initial […]
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Paul Flores pleads not guilty for Kristin Smart’s murder
Paul and Ruben Flores pled not guilty to their charges in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart case at their court appearance today, April 19. This comes nearly a week after the father and son were arrested. Paul, 44, is being charged with first degree murder, allegedly causing Smart’s death in the […]
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Paul and Ruben Flores to appear in court again Monday
After being arrested and charged for their involvement in Kristin Smart’s disappearance and death, Paul and Ruben Flores appeared in court for their arraignment today, April 15. District Attorney Dan Dow charged Paul with first-degree murder and Ruben with accessory to the murder after the fact. Both men appeared before Superior Court Judge Craig Van […]
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Prime suspect in Kristin Smart case charged with first-degree murder
Paul Flores, the prime suspect in the disappearance and death of Kristin Smart, has been charged with first-degree murder. At an April 14 press conference, San Luis Obispo District Attorney (DA) Dan Dow said they would be charging Paul with murder, and charging his father Ruben Flores with accessory to the murder after the fact. […]
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Paul Flores arrested for murder of Kristin Smart nearly 25 years after her disappearance
Update April 14: Paul Flores and Ruben Flores have not formally been charged for murder and accessory after the fact, respectively. They were arrested on suspicion of these charges and booked into jail, and will later be formally charged by the District Attorney. After 24 years, 10 months, two weeks and five days, the 1996 disappearance of […]
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Two suspects arrested in Kristin Smart case
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 12:58 p.m. to include that Paul Flores was arrested on suspicion of murder. Paul Flores, the prime suspect in the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart, was arrested and charged with murder this morning in San Pedro, according to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office records. Ruben Flores, Paul’s […]
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Kristin Smart case: Sheriff’s office investigates family home of Paul Flores
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served another search warrant in the Kristin Smart case Monday morning, March 15. The warrant is for the home of Paul Flores’s father, Ruben Flores, in Arroyo Grande, California. Investigators declared Paul as the “prime suspect” in the on-going case of the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly Student […]
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Sexual assault crimes soared in 2019. Some say Cal Poly Police aren’t equipped to respond.
Content warning: This article discusses multiple forms of trauma, including gender and power-based violence. Survivors of such violence can access virtual confidential services through Cal Poly Safer’s website. The name of the sexual assault survivor in this story has been changed in order to protect her full identity. “Why were you alone with him?” the […]