Well, it’s about time: Paul Flores has been charged with murder in the 1996 disappearance of Kristen Denise Smart. They were both students at Cal Poly when she went missing and she was last seen in his company on campus. He’s been a suspect pretty much ever since. Paul’s father, Ruben, has been charged with being an accessory to the murder.
It’s been a quarter-century. I had thought this would never happen, unless they found Kristen’s body. As far as I know, they haven’t. I don’t know whether they just decided there was some time, or if some other evidence came up, or what.
I would think the Smart family would have mixed feelings about this day — justice will be done, but their daughter isn’t coming back and it’s official now.
The Charley Project Blog 
Wow. Just wow. There does come a point where the DA has to acknowledge that the evidence they have right now is the most evidence they’ll ever have. Maybe that’s the case here; or maybe there IS significant newly discovered evidence. I personally am in the camp of “he did it”; but I’d imagine that the defense will mount an aggressive argument for him not being the guy. Note to self; keep an eye on this case.
Also I meant to ask: are we near the anniversary of her disappearance? It was in 96, so this is the 25th year…just wondering if the “anniversary” date might be a part of why he was charged now, as opposed to any significant evidence being recently discovered. If so, I don’t disagree; the evidence we have now might be the most we’ll ever have, so trying him now just makes sense.
Hopefully they achieve the goal of getting him to disclose her location. But IMO he seems like the type to never disclose such info, as a way to keep hurting those who love and miss her. I also don’t see him as the plea deal type. Let’s hope I’m wrong, but I’m not holding my breath.
The linked article includes the following:
“Parkinson [the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff] said the reason the case has lingered over decades is because arrests cannot be based on “what we might believe, it has to be based on physical evidence.””
and
“yes, we did find physical evidence at at least two homes,” he [Parkinson] said.”
So I assume the reason for making arrests now is not because of “timing,” but rather because LE thinks they can now successfully prosecute the case(s). *Why* it took this long to gather said evidence is certainly a good question, and one that I assume will be soon answered.