The trial of Paul and Ruben Flores is being moved to Monterey County after Judge Craig van Rooyen decided that the trial would not be fair and impartial in San Luis Obispo County. All parties discussed the possibility of two counties being available for trial, ultimately choosing Monterey. van Rooyen said he reached out to […]
Tag: Murder
San Luis Obispo County will no longer hold trial of Flores’ for murder of Kristin Smart
Paul and Ruben Flores’ murder trial will not take place in San Luis Obispo County, presiding judge Craig van Rooyen ruled earlier Wednesday morning. The reasoning for van Rooyen’s decision was mostly attributed to the notoriety of the case in the county. He said that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Flores’ will not […]
Flores’ motion to dismiss the ruling to go to trial for murder of Kristin Smart denied
Paul and Ruben Flores’ defense’s motion to dismiss their case, preventing it from going to trial, was denied at a Jan. 21 hearing. Paul and Ruben Flores are being tried for the murder and accessory to the murder, respectively, of former Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Smart disappeared on May 25, 1996 after walking back […]
Cal Poly alumn Scott Peterson sentenced to life without parole for 2002 murder
Cal Poly Class of 1998 alumn Scott Peterson has been sentenced to life in prison without opportunity for parole for the murder of his wife and unborn child. Peterson was resentenced to life in prison on Dec. 8. following his original death sentence from a 2004 trial, when he was charged with the first degree […]
Paul and Ruben Flores to go to trial for murder of Kristin Smart
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 […]
Day Eight: Kristin Smart hearing updates
The Kristin Smart case preliminary hearing for Paul and Ruben Flores continued last Thursday August 12 with testimonies from two parties. Timothy Davis took the stand first and recalled the evening of the Crandall Way party. Then, Jennifer Hudson testified about a time she was with Paul and he confessed to her. Jennifer Hudson Jennifer […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Property crime in SLO spikes, violent crime on the decline
Property crime in SLO increased in the past two years while violent crime is on the decline.
‘The Emma Peel Game’ explores darkness of gender-based violence
In the underground punk rock world, women no longer sit in the wings but command center stage. However, the spotlight can be dangerously blinding. Cuesta College’s production of “The Emma Peel Game” explores this world and the lives of the women living in it. Directed by bree valle* and written by Cal Poly theatre professor […]

