Criminal Law
The Man Accused of Killing Kristin Smart in 1996 Faces a First-Degree Murder Charge
The man accused of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996 will stand trial for her death, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s office.
Paul Flores, 44, faces a first-degree murder charge for allegedly killing Smart in his Cal Poly San Luis Obispo dorm room. Prosecutors say Flores raped or attempted to rape Smart, who was then a freshman at the university. His father, Ruben Flores, 80, is charged as an accessory to the murder, and prosecutors say he helped hide Smart’s body.
The preliminary hearing for the pair lasted weeks and wrapped up on Monday. The DA’s office tweeted Wednesday that a “judge has determined sufficient evidence was presented for the two to be tried.”
