2 years ago
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Family members of Kristin Smart shared a connection aft Paul Flores was recovered guilty—while Ruben Flores was acquitted—in her execution trial. Read their words aft the divided verdict was reached.
Kristin Smart Murder Trial: Paul Flores Found Guilty
Kristin Smart's loved ones person shared their thoughts.
On Oct. 18, a assemblage recovered Paul Flores guilty of first-degree murder in the lawsuit of Kristin's 1996 disappearance. A abstracted assemblage recovered Paul's father, Ruben Flores, not guilty of being an accessory to her murder.
Following these decisions, Kristin's household expressed their feelings towards the divided verdict."Without Kristin, determination is nary joyousness oregon triumph with this verdict, we each cognize it did not person to beryllium this way," they said successful a connection to E! News. "We volition ne'er beryllium capable to perceive Kristin's engaging laughter oregon revel successful her embrace. Her hopes and dreams volition ne'er beryllium realized; nary signifier of justness tin bring these back."
The household besides thanked Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle and District Attorney Dan Dow, amongst others, for helping them successful their "quest for justice."
"We admit and we are beyond grateful for the diligence of some juries and our faith successful the justness strategy has been renewed by knowing the antheral who took Kristin's beingness volition nary longer beryllium escaped to maltreatment different household oregon victim," they said, adding that the proceedings "has been an agonizingly agelong travel with much downs than ups."
Their connection continued, "We volition ne'er beryllium capable to personally convey everyone, but delight cognize our gratitude and emotion goes retired to each of you who person been with america connected this long, overwhelming, and affectional journey."
The Smart household concluded their connection with words for Kristin, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo pupil who disappeared 26 years agone aft going retired for a enactment during her freshman twelvemonth of college.
"Almost 3 decades ago, our lives were irreparably changed connected the nighttime you disappeared. We anticipation this verdict helps present not conscionable answers, but besides a bid and consciousness of closure that person eluded america for 26 years," the connection read. "Know that your tone lives connected successful each and each 1 of us, each day. Not a azygous time goes by wherever you aren't missed, remembered, loved, and celebrated."
FBI via AP
Kristin's body has ne'er been located. She was legally declared dead in 2002 astatine 25 years old.
Despite her assemblage having ne'er been found, Paul and Ruben were arrested and charged successful April 2021 aft authorities claimed they had located "forensic, carnal evidence" relating to Kristin's lawsuit during searches astatine their respective residences.
Paul was accused of sidesplitting Kristin portion attempting to sexually battle her successful 1996, portion prosecutors alleged that Ruben helped his lad hide Kristin's assemblage successful the backyard of his Arroyo Grande, Calif., house. Both men pleaded not guilty.
Following the Oct. 18 verdict, Ruben's lawyer Harold Mesick said that helium is "pleased with the outcome" during a property league the aforesaid day. E! News reached retired to Paul's defence lawyer Robert Sanger, who stated successful an email that helium does not remark connected pending cases.
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