Front Page  »  

Paul Flores sentenced to 25 to life for Kristin Smart murder

March 10, 2023

Deputy arresting Paul Flores

By KAREN VELIE

Paul Flores, the 46-year-old man found guilty of murdering Kristin Smart in 1996, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on Friday.

During the hearing, Monterey County Superior Court Judge Jennifer O’Keefe told Flores he deserved to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Flores is ineligible for early parole and is required to spend at least 25 years in prison.

“Mr. Flores, you have been a cancer to society,” Judge O’Keefe said. “This predatory behavior has spanned your adult life.”

Before Judge O’Keefe sentenced Flores, she denied motions to dismiss the jury verdict and for a new trial.

Flores attorney Robert Sanger filed a second motion for a new trial on Thursday in which he argued that prosecutors possibly did not share evidence that cadaver dogs can alert to vomit. Judge O’Keefe denied the motion because it was based on speculation.

Paul Flores murdered Kristin Smart during an attempted rape in 1996 following a Cal Poly frat party. After the party, Flores helped escort Smart, who was found passed out on a lawn outside the party, back to her dorm room. She was never seen again.

Paul Flores, the primary suspect in the case, was sporting a black eye when interviewed by law enforcement, who determined he lied repeatedly. Even so, it would be years before deputies raided Paul Flores’ home.

Kristin Smart

During a 2020 raid of Paul Flores’ San Pedro home, deputies discovered multiple rape videos with titles including, “Drugged and raped while passed out” and “Blonde high school girl in skirt gets raped.” Investigators also found two bottles of date rape drugs in Flores’ home, prosecutors said.

In a file labeled “practice,” Paul Flores stored homemade rape videos of himself having sex and sodomizing women. Deputies arrested Flores in April 2021.


Loading...
Subjects:     
Related:


5 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Bittersweet is the word I think describes the outcome. The system, grinding slowly has brought some justice. But this man is so twisted that I doubt he will reveal where the remains can be found. He feels no remorse, no empathy or sympathy and resents being held to account. As long as he dangles his “power” of knowing where she is, he keeps some pain inflicted on the family. Put him in the general prison population for awhile until he talks….


28

I’m sorry that the DA allowed this animal to prey and assault other women while knowing that Paul was responsible for this heinous act. The evidence was under his porch for decades. Blatant disregard for the public. They should all be ashamed and fired.


3

And the Los Angeles DA is NOT prosecuting this POS for all the sexual assaults? WTF?


37

“The San Francisco Treat?” Why would he bother?


5

Bittersweet and incomplete. After almost 27 years, what felt like an eternity to get to a day that many thought would never come, partial justice for Kristen. Flores should never know freedom ever again.


37