>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> YOUNG, VIBRANT 19-YEAR-OLD WOMEN DON'T JUST VANISH INTO
THIN AIR IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN
>> THE MYSTERY HAS LINGERED FOR DECADES.
>> Reporter: IT KINDA CONSUMES YOU.
>> IT DOES >> AS A MOTHER, MY MISSION WILL
ALWAYS BE TO BRING KRISTIN HOME. >> WHAT HAPPENED TO COLLEGE
STUDENT KRISTIN SMART? >> I TOLD AUTHORITIES BACK THEN,
"THERE IS NO WAY SHE JUST TOOK OFF.
>> BY THE TIME THE INVESTIGATORS STARTED, THE SOLID EVIDENCE WAS
GONE >> NOW DRAMATIC NEW DETAILS FROM
INSIDE THE INVESTIGATION >> IT HAUNTS EVERYBODY THAT'S
INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. >> HE HAD PLANNED THIS
HE HAD STALKED HER >> Reporter: THIS GUY WAS A ONE
MAN CRIME WAVE >> HE WAS.
>> I'M RETRACING KRISTIN SMART'S LAST KNOWN STEPS
>> THIS PODCAST SORT OF RAISED THIS CASE TO A NATIONAL LEVEL.
>> I WAS LIKE, "HOLY SMOKES, THIS IS THE GUY.
>> Reporter: HE WAS FREE TO ASSAULT YOU AND OTHER WOMEN TOO.
>> YES >> HE DOESN'T BELONG OUT ON THE
STREET WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE
>> IT WAS TERRIFYING TO HAVE TO FACE HIM
I JUST KEPT THINKING, "YOU HAVE TO DO THIS FOR KRISTIN."
>> 26 YEARS OF SECRETS NOW HEAR THE WHOLE STORY
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS "DATELINE.
HERE'S JOSH MANKIEWICZ WITH "JUSTICE FOR KRISTIN SMART."
>> Reporter: TIME DOES NOT HEAL ALL WOUNDS
THAT'S A LIE WE LIKE TO TELL OURSELVES.
>> THEY TOOK 26 YEARS OF OUR LIFE THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TO
FIGHT. >> Reporter: FOR THE SMART
FAMILY, TIME HAS BEEN TORTURE. THEIR DAUGHTER KRISTIN WAS JUST
19 WHEN SHE VANISHED THAT WAS MORE THAN A QUARTER
CENTURY AGO. >> YOU DON'T GIVE UP
>> Reporter: YOU DON'T GIVE UP >> NO.
YOU CAN'T. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FOR THE
FIRST TIME, YOU'LL HEAR THE INSIDE STORY OF A DECADES-LONG
INVESTIGATION. AS WE'LL EXPLAIN, IT IS THE
STORY OF JUSTICE DENIED FOR MORE THAN JUST ONE FAMILY
>> WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THE VOLUME OF WOMEN.
I THINK THAT MY WORST NIGHTMARE WAS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF
VICTIMS. >> KRISTIN SMART, ALSO KNOWN AS
ROXY - >> 19-YEAR-OLD KRISTIN SMART -
>> NEVER MADE IT HOME -- >> IT'S A MYSTERY THAT LEAVES
THE SMART FAMILY HAUNTED >> Reporter: FOR THOSE OF US
ABOVE A CERTAIN AGE, 1996 DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THAT
LONG AGO OF COURSE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT
TIME A SIMPLER TIME
THERE WAS NO INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, OR TEXTING
FRIENDSHIPS WERE MADE AND CULTIVATED IN PERSON
HER FRESHMAN YEAR AT CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY IN
SAN LUIS OBISPO. VANESSA SHIELDS STARTED A GREAT
FRIENDSHIP >> SHE WAS TWO DOORS DOWN FROM
ME, AND WE JUST -- A BUNCH OF US GIRLS ALL BECAME FRIENDS AND
KIND OF BECAME INSEPARABLE >> Reporter: "SHE" WAS
KRISTIN SMART FROM STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, AND ALSO A FRESHMAN
AT CAL POLY. >> Reporter: SHE INSPIRED ME BY
HER INDEPENDENCE, AND THAT'S WHY WE BEFRIENDED EACH OTHER
>> Reporter: MARGARITA CAMPOS LIVED IN THE ROOM NEXT DOOR TO
KRISTIN. >> AT THAT TIME, I WAS JUST -- I
WAS MUCH MORE SHELTERED THAN SHE WAS, SO SHE WAS FASCINATING TO
ME AND DIFFERENT AND CURIOUS >> WE WERE, YOU KNOW, STUDYING
IN EACH OTHER'S ROOMS, LISTENING TO MUSIC, GOING TO PARTIES,
GOING TO EAT, GOING TO WORK OUT. A LOT OF SILLY STUFF, JUST HANG
OUT AND TALKING. >> Reporter: THAT'S A SCHOOL
WHERE YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND A PARTY?
>> ALWAYS, YEAH. EVEN ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, YEAH.
>> Reporter: INCLUDING THAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ON FRIDAY,
MAY 24th, 1996 PLENTY OF STUDENTS HEADED OUT OF
TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY VANESSA WENT HOME FOR THE
WEEKEND. KRISTIN AND MARGARITA STAYED
THE TWO WOMEN DROVE WITH SOME OTHER FRIENDS TO AN OFF-CAMPUS
PARTY. >> IT WAS A REALLY MELLOW, LIKE,
CHILL PARTY. IT WASN'T VERY VIVACIOUS IN ANY
SORT OF WAY. AND THAT WAS A GREAT
DISAPPOINTMENT TO KRISTIN. 'CAUSE, LIKE, THAT WAS JUST TOO
LOW ENERGY FOR HER SHE THOUGHT, "PARTY, LIVELY.
>> Reporter: SO THEY LEFT. KRISTIN AND MARGARITA WERE
DROPPED OFF IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A LOT OF STUDENTS LIVED,
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CAMPUS THEY WALKED FOR A BIT.
KRISTIN WANTED TO FIND ANOTHER PARTY.
MARGARITA DID NOT. >> Reporter: SHE JUST WAS
STANDING WITH HER ARMS CROSSED AND WAS LIKE, "COME ON, YOU HAVE
TO COME WITH ME. AND I JUST -- I WAS LIKE, "I
REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO. AND THEN SHE WAS LIKE, "COME
ON." AND IT WAS AT THE PUSH AND PULL
OF TWO INDEPENDENT WOMEN >> Reporter: KRISTIN HAD GONE
OUT WITHOUT HER KEYS, HER PURSE, OR EVEN A JACKET
SHE WORE A T-SHIRT, SURF SHORTS, AND TENNIS SHOES
MARGARITA GAVE KRISTIN HER KEY SO SHE COULD GET BACK IN THE
DORM >> I THINK SHE PUT IT IN HER
SHOE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE -- SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY
POCKETS IN HER BOARD SHORTS. >> Reporter: SHE WATCHED KRISTIN
WALK TOWARD THE HOUSES ON CRANDALL WAY
>> SHE WAS NOT GONNA TURN AROUND AND WALK BACK WITH ME TO THE
DORMS. THAT I KNEW.
THAT'S WHEN I LAST LEFT HER. >> Reporter: THE NEXT DAY,
MARGARITA WAS SURPRISED WHEN KRISTIN DIDN'T STOP BY TO TELL
HER HOW THE EVENING WENT >> I KNOCKED ON HER DOOR
I THOUGHT SHE WAS MAYBE STILL SLEEPING
DIDN'T SEE HER FOR, GOSH, THE WHOLE DAY.
>> Reporter: WHEN KRISTIN'S ROOMMATE RETURNED SATURDAY OF
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, SHE AND OTHER WOMEN ON THE FLOOR
REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG ALL OF KRISTIN'S BELONGINGS WERE
IN THE ROOM -- HER BACKPACK, I.D., MAKEUP
THEY CALLED CAMPUS POLICE RIGHT AWAY
>> AND THEN THE CAMPUS POLICE WERE LIKE, "WELL, ARE YOU SURE
SHE DIDN'T GO ON A TRIP OVER THE WEEKEND 'CAUSE IT'S MEMORIAL
WEEKEND? CAMPING?
WE'RE LIKE, "NO, ALL HER STUFF IS HERE.
AND THEY WERE LIKE, "WELL, SHE'S OVER 18, SO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR
24 HOURS." >> Reporter: VANESSA SHIELDS
RETURNED MONDAY EVENING TO HER PANICKED DORMMATES AND A MISSING
FRIEND >> AND THEN I'M LIKE, "WHERE IS
KRISTIN? >> Reporter: KRISTIN'S FRIENDS
NOTIFIED THE RESIDENT ADVISOR IN THE DORM AND AGAIN SPOKE WITH
CAMPUS POLICE. >> THEY JUST THOUGHT SHE JUST
TOOK OFF SHE, THOUGHT SHE JUST WENT ON A FUN TRIP
AND THAT'S WHAT WAS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE KNEW SHE WOULDN'T
JUST TAKE OFF. WE KNEW SHE WOULDN'T DO THAT
>> Reporter: IF SHE WERE PLANNING TO TAKE A MINI VACATION
OR GO HOME OR RUN OFF ANYWHERE, YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT?
>> MYSELF AND A LOT OF THE OTHER GIRLS WOULD HAVE KNOWN, YEAH
KRISTIN WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS DOING OR WHERE SHE
WAS GOING. >> Reporter: AND THEN THE PHONE
RANG AT THE STOCKTON HOME OF STAN AND DENISE SMART.
IT WAS CAL POLY CAMPUS POLICE. >> THEY SAID, "YOUR DAUGHTER'S
NOT AT SCHOOL. >> "DID SHE COME HOME?
>> "WE THINK SHE HAS GONE CAMPING.
AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE EVER HEARD THAT.
AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS.
>> AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY FEARFUL BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT HER.
>> Reporter: SHE'S NOT GONNA LEAVE ON A LAST MINUTE CAMPING
TRIP >> NO.
>> Reporter: STAN SMART GOT IN HIS CAR AND DROVE THE FOUR AND A
HALF HOURS TO SAN LUIS OBISPO. HER FRIENDS IN THE DORM WAITED
AND HOPED FOR ANSWERS. >> EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THIS
FEELING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, I DON'T THINK WE COULD
GRASP AT THAT MOMENT HOW BAD IT COULD BE
>> Reporter: SHE WAS RIGHT NO ONE KNEW HOW BAD IT COULD BE
OR HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE. >> FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT
I'VE INVESTED INTO TELLING THIS STORY, IT'S A FRACTION OF A
FRACTION OF LIVING THROUGH IT. >> Reporter: THIS IS AN ORDEAL
MOST PEOPLE WOULD FOLD UNDER >> YOUR CHILDREN ARE PART OF WHO
YOU ARE, SO YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR THEM
YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND FIGHTING AGAINST TIME.
>>> YEARS LOST AND NO IDEA YET WHAT A TERRIBLE PRICE WOULD BE
PAID >> Reporter: BECAUSE HE WASN'T
LOCKED UP FROM EARLY ON. HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
OTHER THINGS >> ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
IT'S -- IT -- I THINK IT HAUNTS EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED IN
THIS CASE.
HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER, KRISTIN, HAD NOT BEEN SEEN ON HER COLLEGE
CAMPUS FOR DAYS. AND YOU'RE THINKIN' WHAT DURING
THAT DRIVE "WHEN I GET THERE, SHE'LL
ALREADY BE BACK" >> WELL, HOPEFULLY, YEAH
THAT I JUST -- TALK TO HER SAY I'M DISAPPOINTED
>> Reporter: THAT DID NOT HAPPEN
>> THEY WERE SAYING, "OH WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE PROBABLY WENT AWAY
AND SHE'S DISAPPEARED. AND HAS SHE EVER RUN AWAY
BEFORE," AND SO AND FORTH. >> Reporter: BACK HOME IN
STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, KRISTIN'S MOM DENISE CAMPED OUT BY THE
PHONE, WAITING FOR UPDATES >> MY HOPES WOULD'VE BEEN THAT
THE NIGHTMARE WOULD BE OVER ONCE HE GOT THERE, AND SHE WOULD BE
THERE. BUT I WAS -- I JUST KNEW
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT >> Reporter: KRISTIN HAD
STRUGGLED A BIT AT CAL POLY. SHE WAS LESS THAN COMPLETELY
HAPPY WITH HER DECISION TO ENROLL THERE
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHARED WITH EACH OTHER WAS OUR
DISENCHANTMENT WITH CAL POLY >> Reporter: DENISE RESPONDED TO
SOME OF HER DAUGHTER'S COMPLAINTS IN A LETTER SHE WROTE
JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE KRISTIN DISAPPEARED.
"WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES!" SHE WROTE.
"YOU HAVE A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES AT YOUR
FINGERTIPS." YOU'RE KINDA TELLIN' HER -
>> "SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP. >> Reporter: "TIME TO START
ACTING LIKE A GROWNUP. >> RIGHT
>> Reporter: SHE HAD NO DOUBT KRISTIN WOULD GET THROUGH THIS
ROUGH PATCH. SHE WAS NEVER ONE TO SHY AWAY
FROM A CHALLENGE, OR AN ADVENTURE.
>> WELL, SHE LOVED TRAVEL, AND SHE LOVED EXPLORING.
SHE WAS ALWAYS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US PLAN A VACATION --
WRITING IT ALL UP, GOING TO AAA BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO
GOOGLE AT THAT TIME. >> Reporter: SHE SPENT SUMMERS
IN LONDON, VENEZUELA, AND HAWAII
MATT SMART IS KRISTIN'S YOUNGER BROTHER.
TO YOU, SHE WAS LIKE A STAR. >> WELL, YEAH.
SHE -- [ LAUGHTER ]
SHE WAS AN ARTIST. SHE WAS AN ADVENTURER.
SHE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS JUST FULL OF LIFE.
GET OUT THERE AND GET IT DONE. >> Reporter: SHE ARRIVED AT CAL
POLY IN THE FALL OF 1995, EXCITED TO START COLLEGE LIFE.
AND THE CAMPUS CERTAINLY SEEMED A SAFE PLACE
>> YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN A KINDA SHELTERED COMMUNITY
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY KIND OF AWAY FROM TOWN
>> Reporter: IT WAS STILL HARD FOR HER LITTLE BROTHER TO SAY
GOODBYE. >> IT'S LIKE, "SHOULD WE JUST
LEAVE HER HERE?" IT'S A LOTTA TRUST THAT YOU'RE
PUTTING IN THAT. >> Reporter: TRUST THAT SHE'LL
MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES AND THAT THOSE AROUND HER WILL
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE AT 18 OR 19, COLLEGE FRESHMEN ARE JUST ON
THE CUSP OF ADULTHOOD. FOR KRISTIN THAT BROUGHT A TIME
OF REINVENTION AND SHE BEGAN GOING BY OTHER
NAMES, LIKE ROXY WHAT WAS THE DEAL WITH HER
CALLING HERSELF ROXY >> IT WAS A NICKNAME SHE GAVE
HERSELF. I THINK IT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE
THIS ALTER EGO, SHE KINDA JUST WANTED TO HAVE FUN, PLAY WITH
IT >> Reporter: AS MUCH AS KRISTIN
WAS EXPLORING HER NEW, INDEPENDENT, SELF, HER TIES TO
HOME REMAINED STRONG SHE CALLED YOU GUYS EVERY
SUNDAY >> EVERY SUNDAY.
>> Reporter: KRISTIN LEFT A MESSAGE ON HER PARENTS'
ANSWERING MACHINE THE FRIDAY OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
THEY WEREN'T HOME. >> YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW YOUR
CHILDREN'S VOICE AND THERE WAS SO MUCH L --
LAUGHTER AND LEVITY IN IT, THAT SHE WAS SO HAPPY THAT, YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS THE LAST I HEARD FROM HER.
>> Reporter: NO CALL THAT SUNDAY
IT WAS TUESDAY -- THREE DAYS AFTER SHE'D BEEN LAST SEEN --
THAT CAMPUS POLICE TOOK AN OFFICIAL MISSING PERSON'S
REPORT >> IT WAS CLEAR THAT THEY
WEREN'T REALLY CONCERNED THEY STILL THOUGHT SHE COULD
HAVE BEEN A RUNAWAY. THEY THOUGHT SHE COULD HAVE
JUST, YOU KNOW, BEEN OUT HAVIN' FUN.
>> Reporter: SOON, CAL POLY WAS BUZZING ABOUT THE MISSING
FRESHMAN, AND WHAT HAPPENED AT AN OFF-CAMPUS PARTY.
>> I DIDN'T WANT HIM NEAR HER. I JUST DIDN'T WANT HIM NEAR HER.
I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T LIKE IT I DIDN'T REALLY WANT HIM NEAR
ANYBODY. >> YOU HAD A BAD FEELING
>> YEAH.
TERRIBLY SURPRISING THAT A SEARCH FOR A MISSING COLLEGE
STUDENT MIGHT LEAD INVESTIGATORS TO A PARTY
>> ONE OF MY GIRLFRIENDS WAS LIKE, "LET'S GO OUT TONIGHT,"
AND WE JUST ENDED UP THERE >> Reporter: LONG AGO
KENDRA KOED WAS HERSELF AN 18-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO
HAPPENED TO END UP AT AN OFF-CAMPUS PARTY, HERE, ON THE
EVENING OF FRIDAY MAY 24, 1996 >> IT WAS J -- JUST A PARTY.
I REMEMBER GOING IN AND IT WAS BORING, I GUESS.
IT WAS JUST ME AND MY FRIENDS, SORT OF SITTING OUT IN THE BACK,
TALKING. >> Reporter: KENDRA SAID SHE WAS
WALKING AROUND ASKING IF ANYONE HAD A PIECE OF GUM
REMEMBER, SHE WAS 18 >> I KNOW THAT SOUNDS SO SILLY,
BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR GUM, AND THEN I RAN INTO A GUY WHO SAID,
"YES, I'VE GOT SOME GUM. AND WE STARTED TALKING, AND THEN
AT ONE POINT, WE'RE SORT OF IN THE --
SORT OF IN THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, AND HE GRABS ME, AND HE
STARTS TO KISS ME. AND IT WAS VERY WEIRD, AND I
TOOK A MINUTE, AND I STEPPED BACK, AND I PUSHED HIM AWAY, BUT
NOT BEFORE SOMEBODY WAS LIKE YELLING IN THE BACKGROUND, "GET
A ROOM." AND I WAS SO EMBARRASSED
>> Reporter: YOU EVER SEEN THIS GUY BEFORE
>> NOPE. I'D NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.
>> Reporter: STILL -- SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET SOME GUM
HE SAID HE HAD SOME IN HIS CAR >> AND I WALKED AROUND TO THE
SIDE OF THE HOUSE, AND THEN HE GRABBED ME AGAIN AND STARTED
KISSIN' ME AGAIN, AND I PUSHED HIM BACK THIS TIME AND I SAID,
"DUDE, NO. I -- NO.
BYE. I'M LEAVING.
AND I WALKED BACK TO WHERE MY FRIENDS WERE, AND IT WAS LIKE,
"THAT GUY IS SO WEIRD. JUST -- HE'S WEIRD."
>> Reporter: TREVOR BOELTER HAD A WEIRD EXPERIENCE OF HIS OWN
THAT NIGHT AT THE CRANDALL WAY PARTY.
HE WAS A SOPHOMORE AT CAL POLY AT THE TIME.
>> THIS VERY TALL, VERY ATTRACTIVE GIRL WEARING SHORTS
AND A T-SHIRT WALKS UP TO ME AND SAYS, "HI, I'M ROXY.
OKAY?" AND I GO, "HI.
>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T KNOW IT, BUT THAT WAS KRISTIN SMART, THE
NEWLY- MINTED ADULT, NOW ROAD-TESTING HER NEW NICKNAME,
ROXY THIS WAS THE PARTY KRISTIN FOUND
AFTER LEAVING HER FRIEND MARGARITA.
TO TREVOR, SHE SEEMED CONFIDENT, FLIRTY
>> SHE GRABS MY HAND AND SHE TAKES ME TO THE BATHROOM
[ LAUGHTER ] OKAY
SO MY HEAD'S SPINNING A LITTLE BIT.
>> Reporter: INSIDE THE BATHROOM THEY TALKED A BIT.
>> AND SHE GOES, "OKAY I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM NOW."
I'M LIKE, "OKAY. [ LAUGHTER ]
SO I WALK OUTTA THE BATHROOM >> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHEN HE
SAYS HE HAD ANOTHER STRANGE ENCOUNTER.
>> THIS GUY THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, LIKE, IS RIGHT IN MY
FACE AND HE'S, LIKE, "WHAT I'D LIKE
TO KNOW IS WHAT YOU DID WITH HER IN THE BATHROOM.
AND I WAS LIKE, "OH GA -- IS THAT HER BOYFRIEND?"
I'M LIKE, "WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?
YOU KNOW, I'M, LIKE -- I -- LIKE, MY HEAD'S SPINNING
AND I GO, "NOTHING, MAN. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING."
AND THEN HE GOES -- LAUGHS, AND HE GOES, "OH COOL.
>> Reporter: KENDRA KOED DID NOT KNOW KRISTIN SMART, BUT SHE
DEFINITELY NOTICED THE TALL YOUNG WOMAN WALK INTO THE PARTY.
AND SHE ALSO REMEMBERS THE MOMENT, LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER,
WHEN SHE SAW HER FALL TO THE FLOOR.
>> FOR WHATEVER REASON, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHY I DID IT -- I
DIDN'T KNOW HER, BUT I STOOD UP AND I WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM,
AND SHE WAS ON THE GROUND, AND THIS GUY THAT HAD KISSED ME WAS
SORT OF HOVERING OVER HER. >> Reporter: SHE LEARNED THE GUY
WAS NAMED PAUL HE WAS ALSO THE SAME PERSON
WHO'D CONFRONTED TREVOR OUTSIDE OF THE BATHROOM.
>> AND I WAS LIKE, "JUST GO AWAY."
AND ME AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE HELPED PICK HER UP
AND I TOOK HER OUTSIDE SHE HAD A CUP IN HER HAND.
SO HER AND I WENT OUTSIDE, AND WE WENT OUT THE FRONT AND SAT ON
THE PORCH. AND I JUST SORTA SAT WITH HER
FOR A FEW MINUTES. I SAID, "ARE YOU OKAY?
STAY AWAY FROM THAT GUY. >> Reporter: DID SHE SEEM DRUNK?
>> SHE DID SEEM VERY OUT OF IT >> Reporter: DID SHE SMELL LIKE
ALCOHOL? >> I DON'T RECALL.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT WHEN I SAW HER WALK IN, SHE SEEMED OKAY
AND BY THE TIME THAT SHE FELL DOWN AND I PICKED HER UP AND
TOOK HER OUTSIDE, SHE DID NOT SEEM OKAY ANYMORE.
>> Reporter: BY THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, KRISTIN WAS IN
BAD SHAPE. SHE WAS IN THE FRONT YARD AND
SEEMINGLY UNABLE TO STAND UP >> AND I RECOGNIZED HER,
OBVIOUSLY, AS THE GIRL THAT I HAD TRIED TO HELP EARLIER.
AND I ASKED HER IF SHE NEEDED SOMEONE TO WALK HER HOME
>> Reporter: SHE'S LYING DOWN AT THIS POINT
>> SHE'S LYING DOWN, YES >> Reporter: AND SHE SAYS?
>> AND SHE SAYS, "NO, I'VE GOT A RIDE."
AND I'M SURE I SAID, "ARE YOU SURE?"
AND -- EVENTUALLY WE WALKED AWAY
>> Reporter: NO WAY KENDRA COULD KNOW, OF COURSE.
BUT SHE'D BE THINKING ABOUT THAT MOMENT FOR A LONG TIME
>> I SHOULDA DRAGGED HER UP AND WALKED HER HOME.
I JUST WISH I'D DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
HINDSIGHT, RIGHT >> Reporter: STORIES ABOUT THAT
PARTY WOULD BE TOLD AGAIN AND AGAIN.
THE QUESTION WAS -- WHO WAS TELLING THE TRUTH?
>> AND HOW DID YOU END UP, UH, WITH ROXY?
>> UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WEEKEND WAS OVER STUDENTS AT CAL POLY WERE BACK
ON CAMPUS, AND BACK TO CLASS WORD WAS SPREADING ABOUT A YOUNG
WOMAN WHO HADN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF
SATURDAY, MAY 25 - KRISTIN SMART.
>> IT WAS ABOUT 2:00 A.M. SATURDAY THE MORNING WHEN
KRISTIN SMART, ALSO KNOWN AS ROXY, SAID GOOD NIGHT TO
FRIENDS. NO ONE HAS THE 19-YEAR-OLD
SINCE. >> I THINK I SAW IT ON THE NEWS,
WHERE THIS GIRL KRISTIN WAS MISSING, AND I SAW HER FACE, AND
I WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOD, THAT'S THE GIRL."
>> Reporter: EVER SINCE THAT PARTY, KENDRA HAD BEEN THINKING
ABOUT HER INTERACTIONS WITH THE YOUNG WOMAN SHE ONLY KNEW AS
ROXY, AND THE GUY SHE KNEW AS PAUL
SHE CALLED CAMPUS POLICE TELL ME ABOUT THAT CALL.
>> I JUST -- I RELAYED THE WHOLE STORY --
I WAS AT THE PARTY I HAD THIS ENCOUNTER WITH PAUL
AT THE BEGINNING I HAD THIS ENCOUNTER WITH
KRISTIN IN THE DRIVEWAY AND, YOU KNOW, ON THE PORCH, AND SAW PAUL
LEANING OVER HER, AND I -- I TOLD 'EM EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: YOU TOLD POLICE THAT PAUL SEEMED CREEPY?
>> YES >> Reporter: AND THAT HE TRIED
TO KISS YOU? >> YES
>> Reporter: A COUPLE OF TIMES >> YES
>> Reporter: AND THAT HE'D SHOWN SOME INTEREST IN HER
>> YES >> Reporter: THEIR RESPONSE WAS?
>> "OKAY, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH. >> Reporter: AND HOW LONG UNTIL
THEY WERE IN TOUCH >> NEVER
>> Reporter: MAYBE SHE DIDN'T HEAR BACK BECAUSE CAMPUS POLICE
HAD SPOKEN WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM THE PARTY
TURNS OUT, KRISTIN DID NOT HAVE A RIDE HOME, AS SHE'D TOLD
KENDRA. APPARENTLY, SHE'D WALKED BACK TO
CAMPUS WITH SOME OTHER PARTYGOERS
ONE OF THEM WAS PAUL FULL NAME, PAUL FLORES, A
CAL POLY FRESHMAN MAJORING IN FOOD SCIENCE
HE'D GROWN UP IN NEARBY ARROYO GRANDE.
>> THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. >> ALL RIGHT
NO PROBLEM >> THIS IS -- IT'S NOT A
CRIMINAL MATTER. >> Reporter: CAL POLY POLICE
ASKED PAUL FLORES TO COME IN >> SO, YOU WERE DRINKING --
LET'S SEE, YOU WERE DRINKING IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS.
>> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: PAUL TOLD POLICE
THE EVENING BEGAN FOR HIM WITH A FEW BEERS IN THE DORM BEFORE THE
PARTY. >> AND HOW DID YOU GET TO THE
PARTY? >> I WALKED THERE.
>> OKAY, WERE YOU FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE ALCOHOL AT THAT
TIME >> YEAH, I WAS BUZZED PRETTY
GOOD >> Reporter: PAUL SAID THAT AT
THE PARTY, KRISTIN -- A.K.A. ROXY --
APPROACHED HIM >> LIKE, I TALKED TO HER ONE
TIME AT THE PARTY AND SHE SAID "HI, I'M ROXY.
YOU KNOW, UM, "HOW DO YOU LIKE ME?" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> DID YOU FIND, UH, ROXY ATTRACTIVE
>> NAH, NOT REALLY >> HOW COME?
>> SHE WAS DRUNK SHE WAS TALLER THAN ME
>> Reporter: PAUL TOLD THE INVESTIGATORS THAT AFTER THE
PARTY HE AND ANOTHER FEMALE STUDENT WALKED MOST OF THE WAY
BACK TO THE DORMS WITH KRISTIN OTHER STUDENTS SAID THAT WAS
AROUND 2:00 A.M. >> AND HOW DID YOU END UP WITH,
UH, WITH ROXY? >> UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW
>> OKAY. >> I WAS JUST -- WE WERE JUST
ALL LEAVING AT THE SAME TIME, I GUESS.
>> WHEN YOU WERE WALKING, WERE YOU HELPING HER PHYSICALLY WALK
HOME >> NO.
>> SHE WASN'T LEANING ON YOU OR ANYTHING
>> NUH-UH. SHE -- SHE WAS WALKING JUST
FINE COUPLE TIMES I GAVE HER A HUG
WHEN SHE SAID SHE WAS COLD >> OKAY.
DID SHE SAY ANYTHING WHETHER -- WAS SHE FEELING SICK ON THE WAY
HOME OR ANYTHING >> NO.
>> Reporter: PAUL LIVED IN THE BUILDING RIGHT ACROSS THIS
WALKWAY FROM KRISTIN THE OTHER YOUNG WOMAN LEFT TO GO
HOME, AND PAUL SAID HE AND KRISTIN SPLIT OFF HERE, A FEW
STEPS AWAY FROM HER DORM >> WHERE WAS SHE GOING
WAS SHE WALKING? WAS SHE STANDING STILL
WAS SHE LAYING DOWN? >> SHE WAS WALKING
>> Reporter: HE SAID HE RETURNED TO HIS ROOM, THREW UP FROM TOO
MUCH DRINKING, THEN TOOK A SHOWER AROUND 5:00 A.M
>> SO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALIZE, YOU KNOW, HOW
IMPORTANT THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS
>> YEAH. >> YEAH.
YOU -- YOU'RE GRASPING THIS? SHE HASN'T SURFACED.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SIGHTINGS OF HER.
UH, AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON THAT SAW HER
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: AS THEY SPOKE,
SOMETHING CAUGHT THE INVESTIGATORS ATTENTION.
>> TAKE YOUR HAT OFF FOR A SECOND, PAUL
[ UNINTELLIGIBLE ] WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR
EYE? >> I GOT ELBOWED PLAYING
BASKETBALL >> Reporter: PAUL FLORES HAD A
BLACK EYE -- A SHINER HE SAID HE GOT ON MEMORIAL DAY, THE MONDAY
AFTER THE PARTY. >> YOU'VE BEEN COMPLETELY HONEST
HERE WITH -- WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE TOLD US?
>> YEAH. YES.
>> OKAY. AS FAR AS YOUR INJURIES AND --
AND THAT SORT OF THING >> YES
YEAH >> Reporter: AND THAT WAS THAT
PAUL FLORES WAS SENT ON HIS WAY. >> OKAY, PAUL.
THANKS FOR COMING DOWN [ CROSSTALK
I APPRECIATE IT. >> Reporter: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
CAMPUS POLICE MADE OF PAUL FLORES' STORY
WE DO KNOW THAT THE NEXT TIME HE SAT DOWN WITH INVESTIGATORS,
PAUL FLORES WAS SAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> YOU LIED TO US THOUGH, RIGHT?
UP FOR SUMMER BREAK. AND LINGERING OVER THOSE LAST
DAYS OF THE SEMESTER WAS A HUGE UNANSWERED QUESTION --
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MISSING FRESHMAN KRISTIN SMART
>> WE'D GONE OVER TO OUT AROUND THE CAMPUS TALKING TO PEOPLE
>> Reporter: HER FATHER STAN WAS STILL THERE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO,
EVERY DAY, WALKING THE CAMPUS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
HE WASN'T LEAVING WITHOUT HIS DAUGHTER
>> PEOPLE WERE REALLY NICE NO ONE EVER TURNED ME AWAY
IF THERE WAS A LOCKED GATE, THEY WOULD UNLOCK IT AND SAY, "YOU GO
AHEAD AND LOOK YOU KNOW, WE FEEL FOR YA."
>> Reporter: BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION EITHER.
>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Reporter: CAMPUS POLICE WERE TALKING WITH PEOPLE TOO, WITH
SOME HELP FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO D.A. DETECTIVE BILL HANLEY
NEARLY ONE MONTH AFTER KRISTIN DISAPPEARED, HANLEY AND HIS
PARTNER ASKED PAUL FLORES TO COME IN FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO ROXY
WHAT'S YOUR BEST -- YOUR BEST GUESS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO
HER? >> MY BEST GUESS IS MAYBE SHE --
NO -- UM, BECAUSE HER DORM WAS BY THE PARKING LOT OVER THERE,
SO THEN -- I WOULD FIGURE, MY BEST GUESS -- IS, UM, GUESS IS
SHE WENT OFF WITH SOMEONE. >> IT WAS CLEAR THAT HE POSSIBLY
WAS THE LAST ONE TO SEE HER. >> OKAY, UH, A STRANGER OR WHAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW. IT COULD'VE BEEN JUST SOMEONE
SHE KNOWS -- SHE KNOWS -- SOMEONE SHE KNOWS MIGHT HAVE
GONE, YOU KNOW "HEY -- HEY, LET'S GO TO TACO BELL OR
SOMETHING. >> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN HE TOLD
THEM ABOUT HIS WALK BACK TO THE DORMS WITH KRISTIN
>> I WENT UP TO MY DORM, BECAUSE THERE'S THE WALKWAY GOES THAT
WAY TOWARDS MY DORM AND THEN SHE STARTED WALKING UP THAT WAY.
>> Reporter: BY NOW, INVESTIGATORS HAD BEEN ASKING
AROUND ABOUT PAUL FLORES REMEMBER, HE SAID HE'D GOTTEN
THAT BLACK EYE AT A BASKETBALL GAME MONDAY.
WELL, A FRIEND TOLD POLICE HE NOTICED IT EARLIER THAT WEEKEND.
>> LAST TIME WE TALKED TO YOU, YOU HAD A BLACK EYE.
AND WHAT DID YOU TELL US >> I TOLD YOU I GOT IT PLAYING
BASKETBALL >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS KNEW
HE WAS LYING AND NOW CAME A DIFFERENT STORY
>> AND WHERE DID YOU GET IT? >> IN MY CAR
'CAUSE I WAS, UM, UNINSTALLING MY RADIO, 'CAUSE I'M SELLING MY
TRUCK. >> AND HOW DID YOU GET THE BLACK
EYE? >> I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.
>> WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US THAT >> BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
A VERY LIKELY THING. >> YOU LIED TO US THOUGH, RIGHT?
>> WELL, I GUESS YOU CAN CALL IT A LITTLE WHITE LIE BUT -
>> HOW YOU GOT YOUR BLACK EYE IS A WHITE LIE?
>> YUP >> Reporter: SO WHAT'S GOING ON
HERE THIS IS A GUY COVERING HIS
TRACKS >> YES
>> Reporter: AND NOT VERY EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE YOU SMELL
IT >> HE SHOWED VISIBLE SIGNS OF
BEING NERVOUS. HE HAD A WHITE T-SHIRT ON.
HE KIND OF PUT HIS ARMS INSIDE OF THE SHIRT SLEEVES
>> RELAX, YOU'RE GONNA RIP YOUR T-SHIRT UP
>> NO, I'M -- I'M JUST -- GOT AN ITCH
>> OH, ALL RIGHT >> Reporter: LIKE HE'S
PROTECTING HIMSELF >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Reporter: SUSPICIOUS, YES ENOUGH FOR AN ARREST
NOT CLOSE. >> WELL, WE KNOW HE'S NOT BEING
TRUTHFUL THAT, WE'RE POSITIVE OF.
AND THAT WAS THE FRUSTRATING THING.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, ONE DAY AFTER THIS INTERVIEW, THE CAMPUS
NEWSPAPER "THE MUSTANG" PUT IT BLUNTLY --
"INVESTIGATORS, PARENTS REMAIN CLUELESS ABOUT MISSING POLY
STUDENT. THE NEWSPAPER EVEN QUOTED CAMPUS
POLICE AS SAYING, "THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE WAS THE
VICTIM OF A CRIME. A STRANGE COMMENT, GIVEN THAT
CAL POLY P.D. THEN HANDED OVER THE CASE TO THE SAN LUIS OBISPO
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
THAT WAS NEARLY ONE MONTH AFTER KRISTIN DISAPPEARED.
>> I FIND IT UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY DIDN'T REACH OUT FOR SOME
ADDITIONAL HELP. THE INVESTIGATION DEFINITELY GOT
OFF TO A SLOW START. >> Reporter: PAT HEDGES WAS A
COMMANDER IN THE SHERIFF'S PATROL DIVISION BACK IN 1996
HE WAS NOT ASSIGNED TO THE CASE AT THE TIME.
HE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY
CAL POLY P.D., AND THE CRITICISMS THAT FOLLOWED IT.
>> WHEN WE ASSUMED THE -- THE INVESTIGATION 30 DAYS LATER, WE
WEREN'T ABLE TO JUST START IT AT SQUARE -- SQUARE ONE
WE WERE, LIKE, IN A NEGATIVE NUMBER
>> Reporter: CAMPUS POLICE DID LOOK AROUND PAUL FLORES' DORM
ROOM EARLY ON. WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO WAS TAKE ANY
PHOTOS, SEIZE ANY EVIDENCE -- NOTHING THAT COULD BE TESTED FOR
BLOOD OR DNA, OR SOME TRACE THAT KRISTIN HAD EVER BEEN THERE.
AND BY THE TIME THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TOOK OVER THE CASE,
STUDENTS HAD MOVED OUT FOR THE SUMMER AND THE DORM HAD BEEN
THOROUGHLY CLEANED >> ALL THE DORM ROOMS HAD BEEN
SANITIZED. SO WE -- WE WERE AT A BIT -- BIT
OF A DISADVANTAGE ON THAT. >> Reporter: BECAUSE THAT MIGHT
BE YOUR CRIME SCENE. >> MOST LIKELY
EVERYTHING INDICATED THAT THAT WAS AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT
SCENE. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERS
BUT -- THAT WOULDA BEEN A PLACE TO START
>> Reporter: KRISTIN'S FAMILY SAYS CAMPUS POLICE NEVER SHOULD
HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF SUCH A SERIOUS INVESTIGATION TO BEGIN
WITH >> THEY HAD BACKGROUND IN IF YOU
WERE DOUBLE-PARKED, OR YOU WERE DRINKING AND UNDERAGE --
>> Reporter: OR YOUR BICYCLE GOT STOLEN
>> RIGHT >> Reporter: AND THERE WAS
SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE START, SOME OF THOSE
INTERVIEWED -- INCLUDING KRISTIN'S FRIEND MARGARITA --
REMEMBER CAMPUS POLICE FOCUSING ON WHAT KRISTIN WORE, AND WHAT
SHE DRANK. >> SO CAMPUS POLICE WERE ASKING
US, LIKE, "HOW MUCH DID SHE DRINK?
DID SHE DRINK EVERY NIGHT? YOU KNOW, SORT OF PERSONALITY
PROFILING HER. >> Reporter: THEY ALSO WANTED TO
KNOW ABOUT KRISTIN'S SEX LIFE. >> THE TYPE OF QUESTIONS THAT
THEY WOULD ASK ME WERE, LIKE, REALLY EXPLICIT IN RELATION TO
SEX. >> Reporter: WE LOOKED AT THE
FIRST AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH PAUL FLORES, JUST A FEW DAYS
INTO THE INVESTIGATION THE UNREDACTED TRANSCRIPT SHOWS
CAMPUS POLICE CALLING KRISTIN "PROMISCUOUS" OR "MASSIVELY
PROMISCUOUS" THREE TIMES AN INTERROGATION TECHNIQUE
MAYBE. BUT THERE'S NO REASON TO TALK
THAT WAY TO KRISTIN'S FRIEND >> I REMEMBER ONE OF THE CAMPUS
POLICE WAS LIKE, "OH, WELL, SHE WAS SEXUALLY PROMISCUOUS."
>> THE CAL POLY POLICE TOOK ME ASIDE AND SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOUR
DAUGHTER WAS DOING SOME THINGS THAT WOULD PUT HER AT RISK."
AND THAT SHE'D GONE TO A PARTY AND SHE HAD DRANK ALCOHOL, LIKE
THAT WAS UNUSUAL FOR COLLEGE KIDS TO GO TO A PARTY AND DRINK
ALCOHOL, AND THAT SHE WAS SCANTILY DRESSED
AND I LISTENED TO ALL THIS AND -- AND HE WAS PORTRAYING TO
ME THAT OUR DAUGHTER DISAPPEARED, AND IF SHE WAS
DEAD, SHE'D BROUGHT IT ONTO HERSELF, WHICH WAS TOTALLY
WRONG. >> Reporter: I MEAN, YOU THINK
THEY -- YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE WORKED ON IT DIFFERENTLY IF
SHE'D, YOU KNOW, BEEN COMING BACK FROM THE LIBRARY AND NEVER
HAD ANY BOYFRIENDS, AND, YOU KNOW, WAS WEARING A HAZMAT SUIT?
>> WELL, I -- IT WOULD'VE BEEN -- DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE
BEEN DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF VICTIM SHAMING.
AND IT'S, LIKE, WOMEN GET WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING
FOR. >> Reporter: NOW, ONE MONTH IN,
THE CASE WAS IN NEW HANDS. AND WITH SOME NEW SNIFFING
AROUND, THEY WERE ABOUT TO DISCOVER SOMETHING HUGE.
>> THESE DOGS INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN AN -- A DECEASED
PERSON, IN THAT ROOM
HEARTBROKEN OVER HER MISSING FRIEND AND DORMMATE
KRISTIN SMART. SHE WAS REPLAYING MEMORIES WHEN
IT HIT HER THAT PARTY ON CRANDALL WAY WAS
NOT THE FIRST TIME KRISTIN EVER MET PAUL FLORES.
>> WE WERE AT A PARTY, AND I JUST REMEMBER LOOKING OVER AND
SEEING THIS GUY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BEHIND STARING
>> Reporter: STARING AT KRISTIN? >> STARING AT KRISTIN.
IT WAS JUST A KINDA VERY SERIOUS, KIND OF INTENSE AND
DIRECT, YOU KNOW, JUST KINDA STARING.
>> Reporter: NOW SHE SAYS THAT MEMORY GAVE HER CHILLS
THEN YOU SAW HIM AGAIN >> ANOTHER PARTY, YEAH
ABOUT A FEW WEEKS LATER. HE ACTUALLY CAME UP TO US, AND
THAT'S WHEN HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND TALKED TO HER.
>> Reporter: WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN HE TALKED TO YOU GUYS
>> YOU COULD JUST TELL HE WAS, LIKE, KIND OF NERVOUS, BUT YET
HE HAD THIS LITTLE CONFIDENCE TO COME UP TO HER
I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD A CHANCE WITH
HER, 'CAUSE SHE WAS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL GIRL
AND, YOU KNOW, HE JUST WASN'T HER TYPE
>> Reporter: THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS NOW PLAYING SERIOUS
CATCH-UP ON AN INVESTIGATION THEY'D INHERITED FROM CAMPUS
POLICE ARE YOU OPERATING UNDER THE
PRESUMPTION THAT SHE'S NO LONGER ALIVE?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE A SAFE ASSUMPTION.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH PAUL FLORES HAD MOVED OUT, HIS
DORM ROOM CLEANED, DETECTIVES DECIDED TO GO BACK IN, THIS TIME
WITH CADAVER DOGS. OUT OF THE 113 ROOMS IN SANTA
LUCIA HALL, ALL 4 DOGS DETECTED HUMAN DECOMPOSITION IN THE SAME
PLACE -- THE NOW VACANT ROOM OF PAUL FLORES.
THAT WAS PROGRESS. JUST NOT ENOUGH.
THAT IN OF ITSELF IS NOT -- THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD.
YOU CAN'T ARREST ANYBODY ON THE BASIS OF THAT?
>> WELL, NO, NOT REALLY. IT INDICATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN
A SITUATION THERE AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
IT DOESN'T GIVE ENOUGH FOR THE PROSECUTORS TO PROSECUTE A CASE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS ALL QUITE PROVOCATIVE.
BUT WHERE WAS KRISTIN? >> TEAM NUMBER THREE BEHIND THE
SQUAD LEADER WITH HIS HAND UP, PLEASE
>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS SEARCHED THE CAL POLY
CAMPUS AND ITS SURROUNDING HILLSIDES.
>> KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE GROUND. YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT
LOOKS OUT OF PLACE >> Reporter: THE SMART FAMILY
MET WITH LOCAL POLITICIANS, ASKING FOR MORE TO BE DONE
AND AT ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, SOMEONE TRIED TO OFFER DENISE
SMART SOME ADVICE. >> HE SAID, "MRS. SMART" -- HE
SAID, "THIS PERPETRATOR TOOK YOUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE
DON'T LET HIM TAKE ANOTHER LIFE. DON'T LET HIM TAKE YOUR HUSBAND.
DON'T LET HIM TAKE YOUR CHILDREN
BE PRESENT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR HUSBAND."
AND I WAS SO INFURIATED WITH HIM.
HOW DARE HE TELL ME THAT MY DAUGHTER HAD DIED?
>> Reporter: RIGHT, WE'RE -- WE'RE STILL LOOKIN' FOR HER.
>> YEAH, IT -- WE'RE 30 DAYS IN, AND WE'VE NOT GIVEN UP
AND WE'RE GOING TO FIND HER. AND I WAS SO MAD AT HIM AND
UPSET. >> Reporter: BY THIS TIME,
PAUL FLORES HAD STOPPED TALKING WITH POLICE.
HE ENDED UP DROPPING OUT OF CAL POLY AND MOVING BACK HOME.
DENISE SMART KNEW FLORES WAS THE LAST PERSON SEEN WITH HER
DAUGHTER NOW HER DESPERATION LED HER TO
DO SOMETHING UNUSUAL SHE DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO
PAUL'S MOTHER SUSAN, MOM TO MOM, WITH A CAMPAIGN TO PRESENT THE
STORY OF HER DAUGHTER'S LIFE >> I NEED TO SEND THEIR FAMILY,
"THIS IS WHO KRISTIN IS. SO I MADE SEVERAL PAGES OF
PICTURES OF KRISTIN THAT, "THIS IS WHO WE'RE MISSING AND THAT WE
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE." COULD THEY PLEASE HELP US?
>> Reporter: AND SO YOU SEND ALL THIS TO THE FLORES FAMILY?
>> YEAH. AND IT WAS RETURNED.
SHE SENT IT BACK SHE SAID, "WE HAVE OUR OWN
PICTURES," WHICH TELLS ME SHE OPENED IT AND THEN SEALED IT AND
THEN SENT IT BACK. >> Reporter: STAN SMART DROVE TO
THE FLORES HOME IN ARROYO GRANDE TO TRY TO SPEAK WITH PAUL'S
FATHER, RUBEN. >> SO I DROVE UP THERE, AND
THERE WAS A FELLA OUT IN THE FRONT.
AND I REMEMBER STEPPING OUT OF MY TRUCK AND INTRODUCING WHO I
WAS. AND HE DIDN'T WANNA TALK
>> Reporter: THAT WAS -- THAT WAS RUBEN?
>> THAT WAS RUBEN. >> Reporter: AND YOU SAID, "I'M
STAN SMART, AND I'M LOOKING FOR MY DAUGHTER.
>> YEAH, YEAH. "I'D LIKE TO TALK.
HE DID NOT WANNA TALK. HE INDICATED THAT I SHOULD LEAVE
OR SOMEONE'S HAVE TO GET SHOT. WELL, THAT'S SILLY TALK,
IMMATURE TALK. SO I GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE AND
I LEFT >> Reporter: RUBEN FLORES DENIES
SAYING THAT TO STAN. STAN AND DENISE SAY THE ATTITUDE
OF THE FLORES FAMILY WAS ALL ABOUT PROTECTING THEIR SON
AND THEN IT WAS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AGAIN.
ONE YEAR HAD GONE BY >> SO BY MAY 1997, THEY REALLY
HADN'T MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION.
>> Reporter: CHLOE JONES IS THE COURTS AND CRIME REPORTER FOR
"THE SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE." >> ALL THEY HAD AT THE TIME WERE
THE CADAVER DOG ALERTS AND EVIDENCE THAT PAUL FLORES LIED
ABOUT HAVING A BLACK EYE >> Reporter: ON THE ANNIVERSARY
OF HER DISAPPEARANCE, THE SHERIFF SHOWED HIS HAND, AND IT
LOOKED LIKE A LOSING ONE >> ED WILLIAMS, THE SHERIFF AT
THE TIME, TOLD "THE TRIBUNE" THAT THEY HAD NO OTHER SUSPECTS
IN THE CASE AND THAT ALL ROADS LED TO PAUL FLORES, AND THEY
NEEDED PAUL FLORES TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH LIKE A MEMO TO PAUL FLORES SAYING, "IF YOU
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT."
>> IT'S LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?"
>> THAT WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER >> YOU ARE TELLING US HE IS THE
SUSPECT, AND IF THE SUSPECT DOESN'T TALK, THEN THE CASE
ISN'T SOLVED >> Reporter: PAUL FLORES
CONTINUED TO KEEP QUIET. THE SMARTS, HOWEVER, WERE
FIGURING OUT WAYS TO GET HIM TO TALK
>> COULD YOU PROVIDE ME WITH THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS WITH WHOM
YOU HAVE DISCUSSED THE KRISTIN SMART CASE
1997, KRISTIN SMART HAD BEEN MISSING FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND A
HALF SHE'D LAST BEEN SEEN WALKING OFF
INTO THE NIGHT WITH HER CLASSMATE, PAUL FLORES
THE SMART FAMILY, INITIALLY FRUSTRATED BY CAMPUS POLICE,
WERE NOW LOSING FAITH IN THE NEXT TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS
>> WHEN IT WENT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WE WERE VERY HOPEFUL
THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE
ANSWERS. BUT THAT WAS SHORT-LIVED
>> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, THE SMART FAMILY TOOK MATTERS INTO
THEIR OWN HANDS. WHY'D YOU FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH
LAWSUIT? >> TO SOLICIT INFORMATION,
BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GETTING ANY INFORMATION.
>> Reporter: IN A CIVIL CASE, THEIR ATTORNEY COULD DO WHAT
DETECTIVES COULD NOT -- QUESTION PAUL FLORES.
NOT IN AN INTERROGATION, BUT IN A VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION.
>> COULD YOU PROVIDE ME WITH THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS WITH WHOM
YOU HAVE DISCUSSED THE KRISTIN SMART CASE
>> WELL, SORT OF ON THE ADVICE OF MY ATTORNEY, I
REFUSE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BASED ON THE FIFTH AMENDMENT --
FIFTH AMENDMENT -- THE FIFTH AMENDMENT -- FIFTH AMENDMENT
>> Reporter: THAT'S HOW HE ANSWERED NEARLY EVERY QUESTION,
TAKING THE FIFTH, PERHAPS KNOWING THIS CIVIL DEPOSITION
COULD LATER BE USED BY CRIMINAL PROSECUTORS.
>> -- OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
>> WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE -- >> Reporter: THE ATTORNEY FOR
THE SMARTS ALSO DEPOSED PAUL FLORES'S FATHER, RUBEN
>> HAS YOUR SON EVER TOLD YOU THAT HE DID NOT KILL
KRISTIN SMART? >> WELL, I NEVER ASKED THAT
QUESTION >> Reporter: PAUL'S DAD WAS
QUESTIONED BECAUSE INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED KRISTIN'S MURDER
HAPPENED IN PAUL'S DORM ROOM AND HER BODY WAS MOVED AFTER THAT.
WAS THERE A LAW ENFORCEMENT THEORY OF HOW HE GOT HER BODY
OUT OF THE DORM AND WHAT HE MIGHT'VE DONE WITH IT?
>> THERE WERE SEVERAL THEORIES ONE THAT -- THAT HE HAD HELP
TAKIN' HER FROM THE COLLEGE. >> Reporter: PAUL DID NOT HAVE A
CAR ON CAMPUS, AND THE MORNING AFTER THAT PARTY, HE MADE ONE
PHONE CALL -- TO HIS PARENTS' HOUSE.
INVESTIGATORS AND THE SMARTS SUSPECTED HIS FAMILY WAS
INVOLVED IN HELPING PAUL COVER UP THE MURDER.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION WHATSOEVER AS TO WHERE
KRISTIN SMART'S BODY MAY BE? >> NOPE.
>> Reporter: THE DEPOSITIONS PROVIDED A LOT TO INTERPRET, BUT
NOT HARD EVIDENCE. THE FAMILY DECIDED TO PUT THEIR
LAWSUIT ON HOLD. THEY TRIED SOMETHING ELSE.
ABOUT A MILE FROM THE FLORES HOME, THE SMART'S LAWYER PUT UP
A BILLBOARD OFFERING A REWARD FOR THE MISSING CAL POLY
STUDENT. AND THEN YEARS WENT BY, AND WITH
THEM THE ANSWERS THE SMART FAMILY SOUGHT SEEMED TO SLIP
AWAY I HAVE SEEN COUPLES DRIVEN APART
BY SOMETHING LIKE THIS IT CAN RUIN A MARRIAGE
IT CAN WRECK A FAMILY. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH YOU.
>> WELL, WE HAD TWO CHILDREN THAT I THINK WE WERE BOTH --
>> Reporter: WERE THE GLUE TO KEEP THIS TOGETHER
REMEMBER THAT UNSOLICITED ADVICE ABOUT BEING PRESENT, THE ADVICE
WHICH SO INFURIATED DENISE BACK WHEN KRISTIN WAS JUST 30 DAYS
GONE IT KEPT RINGING IN HER EARS.
AND IT HELPED. >> I REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION
TO THIS DAY, AND I DID TRY TO BE PRESENT.
AND I WENT TO THEIR SWIM MEETS AND BASKETBALL GAMES AND SOCCER
GAMES. AND I -- AND I SAT THERE, YOU
KNOW, FOR THEM AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
"KRISTIN'S NOT HERE. I NEED TO BE HERE FOR BOTH OF
US." >> Reporter: SO THE SMART FAMILY
TRIED TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITHOUT HER.
KRISTIN'S FRIEND VANESSA DID THE SAME
>> I GRADUATED, MOVED BACK DOWN TO SAN DIEGO, AND WAS IN MEDICAL
RESEARCH AND THEN I GOT MARRIED, GOT
DIVORCED >> Reporter: ALL THE UPS AND
DOWNS OF LIFE THAT KRISTIN NEVER GOT TO HAVE.
>> AND I WAS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HER, ESPECIALLY AROUND
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THERE'S A PART OF YOU THAT YOU
KINDA LOSE HOPE THAT MAYBE WE'LL NEVER SOLVE THIS
>> Reporter: SINCE LEAVING CAL POLY, MARGARITA HAS STRUGGLED
KNOWING SHE DIDN'T STAY WITH KRISTIN THAT NIGHT
>> I HAD A LOT OF GUILT AND A LOT OF SHAME AND HUMILIATION
MY FRIEND DISAPPEARED BECAUSE I LEFT HER ALONE
THE WAY I GOT OVER MY GUILT AND SHAME WAS KRISTIN'S MOM.
SHE TOLD ME THAT IF I WOULD'VE STAYED WITH KRISTIN THAT NIGHT,
IT MIGHT'VE BEEN TWO GIRLS AND NOT ONE.
>> Reporter: OVER THE NEXT DECADE, PAUL FLORES FINISHED
SCHOOL AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE SMARTS SAW HIM AS THE ONLY
SUSPECT. AND SO DID LAW ENFORCEMENT
EXCEPT STAN AND DENISE SAY THEY HEARD LESS AND LESS FROM THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT >> YOU GET THE IMPRESSION AFTER
A WHILE THAT NOT MUCH IS GOING ON
BUT WE KNEW, AND THEY HAD TOLD US, THEY COULDN'T SHARE
EVERYTHING WITH US AFTER A WHILE, IT GETS A LITTLE
DRAINING >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY
TIMES I WROTE LETTERS AND I SAID, "WILL YOU JUST CALL US
ONCE A WEEK AND SAY, 'WE'RE WORKING ON SOMETHING THIS WEEK
I NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP.'"
>> PROGRESS. >> Reporter: OKAY.
>> "KRISTIN. AND USE HER NAME."
I HAD TO TELL THEM TO USE HER NAME
>> Reporter: THE SMARTS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT UNDER PAT HEDGES.
HE HAD TAKEN OVER THE TOP JOB IN 1998
THE SMART FAMILY HAS THIS STRONG SENSE THAT THERE WAS A PERIOD
DURING THE TIME THAT YOU WERE SHERIFF WHEN NO WORK WAS BEING
DONE ON THIS CASE IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT'S EYES WERE
ESSENTIALLY OFF OF PAUL FLORES ARE THEY RIGHT ABOUT THAT?
>> NO. NO, THEY WEREN'T RIGHT
WE CONDUCTED BOTH COVERT AND OVERT SURVEILLANCE ON HIM.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES HAD OBTAINED WARRANTS FOR WIRETAPS
ON THE FLORES' FAMILY PHONES >> PERHAPS WE COULD GET FAMILY
TALKIN' ABOUT THE CASE >> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T
OVERHEAR ANYTHING UNUSUAL. SHERIFF HEDGES ALSO BROUGHT IN
UNDERCOVER FBI AGENTS TO COZY UP TO PAUL AND GET HIM TALKING
ABOUT HIS PAST THEY'RE HOPING HE SAYS, "WELL, I
DID KILL THIS GIRL." BUT HE DIDN'T DO IT?
>> HE WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST NUTS TO CRACK, IF YOU WILL
>> Reporter: SHERIFF HEDGES LEFT OFFICE IN 2010 NO CLOSER TO
SOLVING THE KRISTIN SMART CASE THAN INVESTIGATORS BEFORE HIM.
DO YOU THINK YOU DID A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF KEEPING THE SMART
FAMILY INFORMED? BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK SO.
>> YEAH. IN RETROSPECT, WE PROBABLY COULD
HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB >> Reporter: THEN SOMEONE ELSE
STARTED INVESTIGATING THE KRISTIN SMART CASE, SOMEONE
WHO'D BEEN INTRIGUED BY THAT FACE ON THAT BILLBOARD AFTER ALL
OF THESE YEARS AND HIS INTEREST WOULD CHANGE
EVERYTHING >> I'VE DRIVEN BY A THOUSAND
TIMES. AND I WAS SUDDENLY HOOKED AND
>> Reporter: CHRIS LAMBERT GREW UP MORE THAN A HALF AN HOUR
SOUTH OF SAN LUIS OBISPO WHEN KRISTIN SMART DISAPPEARED
IN 1996, CHRIS WAS 8 YEARS OLD OVER THE YEARS, HE DROVE PAST
THOSE BILLBOARDS AND THE FADING PHOTOS OF KRISTIN SMART.
>> AND I WOULD SEE THIS BIG BILLBOARD THAT SAID, "KRISTIN
SMART: MISSING.
$75,000 REWARD." AND EACH TIME I WOULD PASS IT, I
WOULD GO, "THAT GIRL'S STILL MISSING?
>> Reporter: MORE THAN TWO DECADES LATER, THOSE BILLBOARDS
WERE STILL UP. AND HE SAYS IT JARRED SOMETHING
IN HIM >> I STARTED ASKING FRIENDS AND
FAMILY MEMBERS, "DO YOU REMEMBER THE KRISTIN SMART STORY?
AND WHAT CAME OUT WAS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THE
DETAILS OR WERE CONFUSED ABOUT WHO SHE WAS.
>> Reporter: CHRIS HAD NEVER INVESTIGATED ANY CRIME
HE WAS A MUSICIAN, NOT A JOURNALIST
HE WASN'T EVEN A FRIEND OF THE SMART FAMILY
HE DID, HOWEVER, HAVE AN IDEA. >> EVERYTHING HIT ME IN A VERY
PERSONAL WAY BECAUSE IT'S MY HOME
"I WONDER IF THIS IS THE KIND OF STORY THAT I COULD PUT TOGETHER
IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE WOULD CONSUME IN PODCAST FORM?
>> Reporter: IN 2018, HE BEGAN COLD CALLING ANYONE CONNECTED TO
THE KRISTIN SMART CASE AND PEOPLE TALKED.
>> I DON'T HAVE A BACKGROUND IN THIS
AND I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ARREST THEM.
I DO THINK PEOPLE OPENED UP TO ME, AND STILL OPEN UP TO ME,
MORE THAN THEY HAVE TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE FBI,
OR OTHER PEOPLE INVESTIGATING. >> Reporter: HE STARTED PUTTING
TOGETHER THE FIRST EPISODES OF A PODCAST, NOT SURE WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN >> ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS EARLY
ON IS WHEN I REACH OUT TO KRISTIN SMART'S PARENTS, THEY
MIGHT SAY, "WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TELL THIS STORY.
>> Reporter: CHRIS ATTENDED A MEMORIAL THE FOLLOWING YEAR FOR
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN KRISTIN'S 42nd BIRTHDAY.
AND HE APPROACHED DENISE SMART >> "HI, I'M HERE TO LEARN ABOUT
YOUR DAUGHTER. AND I THINK THAT THEY COULD SEE
EARLY ON THAT I WASN'T LIKE ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAD APPROACHED
THEM UP TO THIS POINT. >> WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO'VE
WANTED TO WRITE BOOKS, PEOPLE WHO'VE WANTED TO WRITE STORIES
AND -- >> Reporter: AND YOU'VE TURNED
THEM DOWN. >> WELL, THEY DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.
AND VERY CALMLY, AS CHRIS DOES, HE JUST SORT OF TOLD ME ABOUT AN
IDEA FOR A PODCAST >> Reporter: IT WAS AN IDEA THE
SMART FAMILY LIKED >> IT HAPPENED IN MY OWN
BACKYARD, WHICH IS WHY I NAMED THE PODCAST "YOUR OWN BACKYARD."
>> I'M RETRACING MISSING CAL POLY STUDENT KRISTIN SMART'S
LAST KNOWN STEPS >> Reporter: IT IS HOW MANY
AROUND HERE EITHER LEARNED OF OR REMEMBERED THE STORY OF THE
YOUNG WOMAN ON THE BILLBOARD AND THE STORY OF THE MAN SUSPECTED
OF TAKING HER AWAY WHAT CHRIS DID NOT SEE COMING
WAS THAT THE PODCAST MADE MORE PEOPLE WANT TO TALK WITH HIM
HOW MANY PEOPLE CONTACTED YOU AND SAID, "I HAVE SOME PERSONAL
KNOWLEDGE OF THIS CASE"? >> I THINK HUNDREDS, IF NOT
THOUSANDS BY THIS POINT. >> THE SAME COMFORT THAT WE HAD
WITH HIM APPARENTLY WAS THE SAME COMFORT THAT THOSE WHO CAME
FORWARD TO TALK WITH HIM HAD >> Reporter: CHRIS HEARD STORIES
FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW PAUL FLORES AS A LITTLE KID, SOME OF THEM
NOT VERY FLATTERING. >> THERE'S AN INCIDENT WHERE
HE'S SWIMMING IN THE FAMILY POOL
AT SOME POINT, THERE'S A GIRL THAT HE GETS INTO A FIGHT WITH
AND SUDDENLY, HE'S HOLDING HER DOWN UNDER THE POOL SO SHE CAN'T
BREATHE. FINALLY, AN ADULT HAS TO PULL
HIM OFF. >> Reporter: CHRIS LEARNED THAT
IN THE YEARS AFTER KRISTIN DISAPPEARED, PAUL FLORES HAD
MOVED SOUTH TO LOS ANGELES COUNTY
HE WORKED FOR A WHILE AT A COCA-COLA BOTTLING PLANT AND WAS
A REGULAR AT THE LOCAL BARS. HE WAS ALSO ARRESTED MULTIPLE
TIMES FOR DRUNK DRIVING. CHRIS INTERVIEWED ONE OF PAUL'S
GIRLFRIENDS DURING THAT TIME >> THERE WAS SOMETHING ALWAYS
ODD ABOUT HIM AND HIS FAMILY THERE WAS ALWAYS LOTS OF -- LOTS
OF SECRETS HE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MANY
FRIENDS. >> Reporter: AT FIRST, CHRIS
EXPECTED ONLY LOCALS WOULD LISTEN TO HIS PODCAST.
>> I THOUGHT, "IF I CAN JUST GET A COUPLE THOUSAND LOCAL PEOPLE
LISTENING TO THIS, THAT'LL BE WORTH IT."
>> Reporter: THAT WASN'T THE WAY IT PLAYED OUT?
>> NO. IT BLEW UP
>> Reporter: NOT IN THE THOUSANDS.
"YOUR OWN BACKYARD" PODCAST GAINED MILLIONS OF LISTENERS
>> IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN SOMEONE GOES MISSING IN YOUR OWN
BACKYARD >> Reporter: IT CAUGHT ATTENTION
OF THE LATEST SHERIFF IN TOWN, IAN PARKINSON.
>> CHRIS TOLD THE STORY THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW
AND HE OPENED THE EYES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO -- TO KRISTIN
>> Reporter: SHERIFF PARKINSON HAD BEEN IN OFFICE FOR EIGHT
YEARS BY THEN. HE'D RUN ON A PROMISE TO MAKE
COLD CASES LIKE KRISTIN'S A PRIORITY
>> I PROMISED THAT I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO FIND
KRISTIN AND PROSECUTE THOSE THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE
>> HE JUST REALLY CARED. WE FELT MOVEMENT
WE FELT PROGRESS AND THERE WAS COMMUNICATION.
>> Reporter: THE SMARTS SAY PARKINSON AND HIS COLD CASE
INVESTIGATOR CLINT COLE STAYED IN REGULAR TOUCH, RETURNED THEIR
CALLS, AND RAN DOWN TIPS THAT STILL TRICKLED INTO THE FAMILY
NONE OF THAT LED TO IMMEDIATE ANSWERS.
IT DID MAKE THE SMARTS FEEL THEY HAD TWO REAL ALLIES -- A
PODCASTER AND A DETECTIVE WORKING TOGETHER IN AN
UNORTHODOX RELATIONSHIP. >> CHRIS IS A GOOD GUY
INFORMATION. >> Reporter: SHARING INFORMATION
WITH A PODCASTER, THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT IN THE MANUAL, IS IT?
>> NO, IT'S NOT. IT'S A RISK.
BUT WE MET WITH HIM, AND WE GOT A GOOD VIBE FROM HIM
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE CLINT COLE WAS NOW FOCUSING ON
THE FLORES FAMILY. HE GOT WARRANTS FOR NEW WIRETAPS
AND STARTED MONITORING THEIR PHONE CALLS.
>> I HEARD THAT YOU ORDERED SOME COOKIES.
>> YEAH, BUT I HAD THEM MAILED >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THE FLORES FAMILY'S VERY CAUTIOUS.
THEY'RE VERY CAREFUL >> Reporter: AS COLE LISTENED,
HE HEARD SOMETHING INTERESTING >> THE OTHER THING I NEED YOU TO
DO IS TO START LISTENING TO THE PODCAST.
>> Reporter: ON THE WIRE TAP, SUSAN, PAUL'S MOM, SAYS TO HIM,
"I NEED YOU TO START LISTENING TO THE PODCAST."
>> I NEED YOU TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THEY SAY SO WE CAN
PUNCH HOLES IN IT, UM, WHEREVER WE CAN PUNCH HOLES
MAYBE WE CAN'T YOU -- YOU'RE THE ONE THAT CAN
TELL ME. >> THAT TOLD ME THAT HE'S
INVOLVED WHY ELSE WOULD HE BE ABLE TO
POKE HOLES IN THE -- IN THE PODCAST?
AND HE DOESN'T RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION
HE DOESN'T SAY, "WHY I DON'T KNOW
WHY? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING."
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE COLE FOUND THAT VERY SUSPICIOUS
INVESTIGATORS ALSO DISCOVERED THE FLORES FAMILY HAD STARTED
SECRETLY COMMUNICATING USING ENCRYPTED MESSAGING
APPLICATIONS TOGETHER IT WAS ENOUGH TO GET
NEW SEARCH WARRANTS ON PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE FLORES
FAMILY, INCLUDING THE HOME PAUL FLORES OWNED IN
LOS ANGELES. >> IT WAS A TOTAL HOARDER HOUSE,
FILTHY, BLACK MOLD IT WAS SUCH A MESS
>> Reporter: AMID THE MESS, INVESTIGATORS SEIZED PAUL
FLORES' ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, COMPUTERS, PHONES, HARD DRIVES
>> WE WERE LOOKING FOR ANY CORRESPONDENCE OR TEXT MESSAGES,
ANY -- ANY EVIDENCE THAT COULD BE RELATED TO THE CRIME.
>> Reporter: AND THOSE DEVICES HAD STORIES TO TELL.
STORIES ABOUT WHAT PAUL FLORES HAD BEEN DOING IN THE YEARS
SINCE KRISTIN SMART VANISHED >> AT THE TIME, DID YOU SUSPECT
THAT YOU MIGHT BE DRUGGED? >> NO.
>> Reporter: FROM THE BEGINNING, INVESTIGATORS HEARD PAUL FLORES
HAD A REPUTATION HE WAS AWKWARD, MADE SOME WOMEN
UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THERE WAS MORE
CHRIS LAMBERT SPOKE WITH WOMEN WHO KNEW HIM IN THE YEARS BEFORE
KRISTIN SMART VANISHED THEY DESCRIBED HIM AS
"FRIGHTENING." >> WELL, HIS NICKNAME WAS
"SCARY PAUL. >> YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ALONE
IN A ROOM WITH HIM YOU WOULDN'T LET ANY OF YOUR
FRIENDS BE DRUNK AROUND HIM. >> Reporter: IN 2020,
INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY CONFIRMED THAT AND MORE, WHEN THEY SCOURED
THOSE COMPUTERS AND HARD DRIVES SEIZED FROM PAUL FLORES' HOME IN
SAN PEDRO, A WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD OF LOS ANGELES.
>> WE FOUND PAUL'S SEARCH HISTORY.
AND WE FOUND DOWNLOADS OF PORNOGRAPHY FILM ABOUT RAPING
DRUNK COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT HE'D SAVED.
>> Reporter: AND IN A FILE LABELED "PRACTICE," THEY
DISCOVERED PAUL FLORES HAD STORED SOME VIDEOS STARRING
HIMSELF. >> THEY SHOW PAUL FLORES HAVING
SEX WITH GIRLS THAT ARE PASSED OUT.
>> Reporter: THEY'RE CLEARLY NOT IN ANY STATE TO GIVE CONSENT
>> NO, NOT AT ALL. >> I WATCHED TWO OF 'EM
PARTIALLY. AND IT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME
SICK THAT SOMEBODY COULD DO THAT TO SOMEBODY.
>> Reporter: THIS IS DATE RAPE THAT HE'S VIDEOTAPING?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
LEARNED FLORES WOULD APPROACH WOMEN AT BARS IN HIS
L.A. NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND CLOSING TIME
THAT'S WHERE THIS WOMAN SAYS SHE MET HIM IN 2015.
HE NOTICED YOU >> UM, I GUESS SO, YES
>> Reporter: WE AGREED TO CALL HER SAM AND CONCEAL HER
IDENTITY IT WAS LATE, "SAM" SAYS, AND SHE
WAS TIPSY AND WAITING FOR A RIDE OUTSIDE A BAR, WHEN FLORES
APPROACHED HER >> HE ASKED IF HE COULD TAKE ME
HOME, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE, "I COULD TAKE YOU HOME.
IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S FINE. AND -- UM, HE WAS VERY
PERSISTENT >> Reporter: DESCRIBE HIM.
>> HE WAS AWKWARD, AND HE SEEMED MEEK
THAT'S HOW I FELT. LIKE, "OH, HE'S JUST -- YOU
KNOW, IT'S 1:00 IN THE MORNING AND HE JUST WANTS TO HANG OUT,
AND HE'S BEING AWKWARD ABOUT IT. BUT LET'S GO GET SOMETHING TO
EAT. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS SHE GOT
INTO FLORES'S CAR, AND THEY DROVE TO A RESTAURANT.
AFTER WHICH, SHE AGREED TO GO BACK TO HIS PLACE.
>> AND WHEN HE OPENS THE DOOR, IT WAS JUST A HOARDING MESS.
AND I THOUGHT, "WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET YOURSELF
INTO?" >> Reporter: SHE SAYS THAT ON
HIS COUCH, SHE TRIED TO THINK OF AN EXIT STRATEGY
>> HE OFFERS ME WATER, AND WE STILL TALK
>> Reporter: HE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN TALKING?
>> YEAH, HE'S NOT AGGRESSIVE OR ANYTHING, BUT I KNOW THAT I
WANTED TO LEAVE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T
MUSTER UP THE ENERGY OR VOICE, "I WANT TO GO.
WHICH -- >> Reporter: BECAUSE YOU WOULD
HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE SAYING THAT? >> NEVER
I'M VERY -- I'M FEISTY IF I DON'T LIKE SOMETHING,
YOU'LL KNOW. >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
>> WE GO TO HIS BEDROOM. AND THEN WE HAVE RELATIONS THAT
I'M NOT PARTICIPATING IN >> Reporter: MEANING HE'S
FORCING HIMSELF ON YOU >> NOT "FORCING.
IT'S JUST -- I'M JUST LAYING THERE.
AND, UM, JUST THINKING TO MYSELF, "I WANT THIS TO BE OVER,
I WANT TO GO HOME. BUT I NEVER VOCALLY SAID IT.
>> Reporter: AFTERWARD, SAM SAYS SHE PASSED OUT, WOKE UP A FEW
HOURS LATER, AND WENT HOME FEELING GROGGY
ALL OF WHICH WAS WEIRD, SHE SAYS, BECAUSE SHE HADN'T HAD ANY
ALCOHOL FOR SEVERAL HOURS. >> IT WAS ABOUT 1:00 A.M. WHEN I
HAD MY LAST DRINK. AND THEN JUST HAD WATER AT THE
RESTAURANT, AND AT HIS HOUSE >> Reporter: SAM WAS NOT ONE OF
THE WOMEN IN PAUL FLORES' VIDEOS
HOWEVER, WHEN INVESTIGATORS SAW THOSE VIDEOS, THEY SUSPECTED
FLORES WAS DRUGGING AND RAPING WOMEN.
FROM THE SEARCH WARRANT, THEY FOUND MEDS IN HIS HOUSE.
>> WE FOUND FLEXERIL AND TRAMADOL
IN SPEAKING TO A LOCAL DOCTOR, HE SAID THAT TRAMADOL AND
FLEXERIL MIXED TOGETHER WITH ALCOHOL COULD PRODUCE A SEDATIVE
STATE OF MIND FOR SOMEONE WHO INGESTED THEM.
>> Reporter: A SEDATIVE STATE OF MIND, SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SEE ON
THOSE VIDEOS WITH THOSE WOMEN? >> CORRECT
>> Reporter: YEARS AFTER HER ENCOUNTER WITH PAUL FLORES, SAM
LISTENED TO CHRIS' PODCAST AND STARTED CONNECTING THE DOTS.
>> "OH, MY GOSH, NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE WHY EVERYTHING
HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID. >> Reporter: SAM FLASHED BACK TO
THAT GLASS OF WATER PAUL FLORES HANDED HER AT HIS PLACE.
>> HE WENT TO THE KITCHEN AND GRABBED ME A GLASS OF WATER THAT
I DID NOT SEE. >> Reporter: SO HE WAS ALONE
WITH YOUR GLASS OF WATER FOR - >> YES
>> Reporter: -- A FEW SECONDS? >> AS WELL AS, WHEN I WAS AT THE
RESTAURANT WITH HIM, I DID GET UP TO GO TO THE RESTROOM TWICE
>> Reporter: THAT BRINGS US BACK TO A DETAIL ON THE NIGHT KRISTIN
WENT MISSING DESPITE ALL THE TALK ABOUT HER
BEING INTOXICATED, PEOPLE DIDN'T REPORT SEEING HER DRINK MUCH
>> I LEFT HER AROUND, LIKE, 10:30 OR 11:00, DEAD SOBER, BY
THE WAY. >> I NEVER SAW HER ACTUALLY
DRINKING, BUT SHE WAS DEFINITELY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
SOMETHING. >> Reporter: ALL THESE YEARS
LATER, A CLEAR PICTURE WAS STARTING TO EMERGE FOR
INVESTIGATORS. THEY BELIEVED IN ALL LIKELIHOOD,
PAUL DRUGGED KRISTIN THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, AND WENT ON TO
DO IT TO OTHER WOMEN, AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IF PAUL FLORES IS GUILTY OF KRISTIN SMART'S MURDER, THEN HE
WASN'T PROSECUTED FOR IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENED
AND HE WAS FREE THEN - >> YES
>> Reporter: -- TO ASSAULT YOU, CHEMICALLY AND LITERALLY, AND
OTHER WOMEN, TOO >> YES
>> Reporter: ALL BECAUSE OF THE INACTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT BACK
THEN >> YEAH, THEY DROPPED THE BALL
>> Reporter: WHEN YOU SEE ASSAULTING WOMEN WHO CANNOT
RESIST, YOU GOTTA KNOW THAT'S THE PRICE OF NOT ARRESTING HIM
UP HERE. >> YUP
YUP. AND THAT TOLD US THAT WE NEED
TO -- WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE, RIGHT?
HE DOESN'T BELONG OUT ON THE STREET
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS HOPED THIS WOULD BE THEIR SHOT TO
FINALLY LOCK UP PAUL FLORES, IF NOT FOR KRISTIN'S MURDER, THEN
MAYBE ON RAPE CHARGES. >> SO WE INVOLVED LAPD AND -- TO
HELP TO IDENTIFY THESE WOMEN WE HAD CRIMES THAT WE WERE
WITNESSING WE HAD MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS
WITH LAPD AND LOS ANGELES D.A.'S OFFICE
>> Reporter: THOSE ATTEMPTS TO BUILD A RAPE PROSECUTION AGAINST
FLORES IN L.A. WERE UNSUCCESSFUL
HE WAS STILL OUT THERE, FREE TO WALK THE STREETS, OR GO TO ANY
BAR. AND 24 YEARS LATER, THE SMARTS
STILL HAD NO ANSWERS WHAT INVESTIGATORS REALLY NEEDED
WAS TO DIG UP SOME NEW EVIDENCE. AND IN 2021, THEY QUITE
LITERALLY DID. >> I WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE,
HEART POUNDING, THINKING WE WERE >> Reporter: MORE THAN TWO
DECADES AFTER KRISTIN SMART'S DISAPPEARANCE, PAUL FLORES WAS
STILL A FREE MAN THEN, IN 2021, A TIP CAME IN,
RELAYED BY PODCASTER CHRIS LAMBERT.
CHRIS TOLD DETECTIVES THAT A GUY WHO RENTED A ROOM ON
RUBEN FLORES' PROPERTY HAD MOVED OUT, AND HE WAS NOW TALKING.
>> HE TOLD US THAT NO ONE WAS ALLOWED UNDERNEATH THE DECK OF
THE HOUSE FOR ANY REASON >> Reporter: AND TO THE NAKED
EYE, WHAT WAS UNDER THE DECK >> JUST SOME, UH, YARD TOOLS
NOTHING, REALLY. >> Reporter: BUT IT WAS
OFF-LIMITS >> IT WAS OFF-LIMITS ACCORDING
TO THIS RENTER WHO LIVED THERE FOR TEN YEARS.
>> Reporter: ON MARCH 15, 2021, COLE'S TEAM SERVED ANOTHER
SEARCH WARRANT AT RUBEN FLORES'S HOME
THIS TIME, THEY CAME EQUIPPED WITH CADAVER DOGS, A COUPLE OF
ARCHAEOLOGISTS, AND SOME GROUND PENETRATING RADAR.
THE SEARCH LASTED TWO DAYS >> THEY FOUND A VERY SUSPICIOUS
LOCATION UNDERNEATH THE DECK, SIX FOOT BY FOUR FEET DEEP
>> Reporter: EVEN TO THE UNEDUCATED EYE, YOU COULD TELL
THAT THAT WAS A HOLE THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN DUG.
>> YES YOU COULD SEE ACTUAL SHOVEL
MARKS IN SOME OF THE AREAS AND THEN AS WE GOT DOWN
ABOUT 18 TO 24 INCHES, WE STARTED SEEING VERY SUSPICIOUS
STAINING THAT THE ARCHAEOLOGIST WHO WAS HELPING US SAID WAS
CONSISTENT WITH HUMAN DECOMPOSITION FLUID.
>> Reporter: THEY KEPT DIGGING >> I WAS SITTING RIGHT AT THE
HOLE -- HEART POUNDING, THINKING WE WERE GONNA FIND HER
>> Reporter: THIS IS IT. >> THIS IS IT.
>> Reporter: EXCEPT, IT WASN'T IF KRISTIN SMART HAD BEEN BURIED
UNDER THAT DECK, SHE WAS THERE NO LONGER.
BEFORE THEY LEFT, INVESTIGATORS TOOK SAMPLES OF THOSE STAINS
AND THEN PAUL FLORES' MOTHER SUSAN AGREED TO TALK ON CAMERA,
WITH A REPORTER FROM NBC AFFILIATE KSBY
>> BUT THEY KEEP TRYING TO FIND THE ANSWERS WITH US.
AND THEY KEEP FAILING, BECAUSE THE ANSWERS AREN'T HERE.
>> YEAH, IT WAS SURPRISING THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY QUIET,
NOT WANTING TO DISCUSS THINGS. SO WHEN I SAW THAT TAPE, I
WAS -- I WAS SHOCKED >> THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WHAT
HAPPENED HERE TODAY. THEY TOOK HIS HIS LIFE AWAY FROM
HIM TOO. >> Reporter: SUSAN FLORES SAID
SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO KRISTIN SMART, AND THAT HER
FAMILY WAS BEING TARGETED UNFAIRLY
>> Reporter: AND WERE YOU GUYS ANTICIPATING THIS?
WERE YOU GUYS SURPRISED AT ALL >> NO, I'M NOT SURPRISED AT
ANYTHING THEY DO THEY'RE HARASSING MANIACS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T HELP THIS
FAMILY FIND THEIR CHILD. >> Reporter: THE WOMAN
DENISE SMART HAD ONCE TRIED TO REACH, MOTHER TO MOTHER, STILL
HAD NOTHING TO OFFER IT'S INTERESTING
IT'S TWO FAMILIES THAT -- I MEAN, YOUR FAMILY HAS DONE
EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO FIND SOME ANSWERS.
AND THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN --
>> TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T >> TO NOT.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS RUSHED THOSE STAIN SAMPLES FROM
THE DIG TO THE LAB AND, FINALLY, A BREAK.
>> THEY TESTED IT AND IT'S POSITIVE FOR HUMAN BLOOD, FOUR
FEET DOWN. >> Reporter: THAT BLOOD WAS TOO
DEGRADED FOR A DNA TEST. >> YES
IT WAS TOO DEGRADED. BUT WHO HAS BLOOD IN THEIR SOIL
FOUR FEET DOWN WITH HUMAN DECOMP STAINS IN A PREVIOUSLY DUG AREA?
>> Reporter: IF THAT'S NOT KRISTIN SMART, THEN WHO IS IT?
>> WHO ELSE DID YOU HAVE BURIED IN YOUR BACK YARD?
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHAT FINALLY GETS YOU OVER THE ARREST HURDLE?
>> YES THAT FINALLY GOT US TO A POINT
WHERE WE FELT THE CASE WAS CHARGEABLE AND WINNABLE.
>> Reporter: ON APRIL 13th, 2021, ALMOST 25 YEARS AFTER
KRISTIN SMART DISAPPEARED, DETECTIVES MADE THE MORE THAN
200-MILE TREK FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO TO PAUL FLORES'S HOME IN
SAN PEDRO, AND FINALLY PUT HIM IN CUFFS
>> WHEN IT FINALLY HAPPENED IT WAS TH -- THAT SURREAL MOMENT,
IT'S LIKE, "THEY REALLY ARRESTED HIM?
THEY REALLY ARRESTED HIM?" >> I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HOW I
SHOULD FEEL OR HOW TO PROCESS IT
BUT I -- OF COURSE, IT -- IT SEEMED LIKE A FANTASTIC OUTCOME.
>> I WAS SO HAPPY AND RELIEVED TO KNOW THAT A DAY THAT I HAD
HOPED WOULD HAPPEN FOR YEARS FINALLY CAME
SO I WAS JUST RELIEVED THAT SOMEONE I FELT WAS VIOLENT WAS,
YEAH, OFF THE STREETS. >> Reporter: THE CHARGE AGAINST
PAUL FLORES -- MURDER DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPTED
COMMISSION OF RAPE AND THAT SAME DAY, THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE MADE A SECOND ARREST. RUBEN FLORES WAS CHARGED AS AN
ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT, ACCUSED OF HELPING HIS SON
CONCEAL KRISTIN SMART'S BODY >> AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THEY'D
ARRESTED RUBEN, AND IT'S LIKE -- SO THAT WAS A GOOD DAY
THAT WAS A GOOD DAY. >> Reporter: RUBEN FLORES'
ATTORNEY SAID HIS ARREST WAS SIMPLY A TACTIC TO TRY TO PRY A
CONFESSION OUT OF HIS SON PAUL SO, WOULD PAUL FLORES FINALLY
TALK OR MAYBE, HE ALREADY HAD
HE JUST BLURTS THIS OUT? >> YES
NO SMIRK NO SMILE
NO -- "OH, I'M SCREWING WITH YOU.
>> Reporter: HE JUST SAYS IT >> MM-HMM, STRAIGHT FACE
>>> COMING UP THIS SUNDAY ON "DATELINE.
>> WHAT WERE THE CHANCES SHE WOULD EVER WALK AWAY FROM THAT
FAMILY >> THERE WEREN'T ANY CHANCES
LIZ WOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT HER CHILDREN.
>> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY.
>> I KNOW I'M JUST A FRIEND. I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S
WRONG. >> I VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH
BELIEVED MY FRIEND WAS IN DANGER.
>> I HAD GOTTEN A CALL SAYING, YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS.
WE KNEW WE HAD A MURDE SMART FAMILY WAITED AND WAITED
AND HOPED FOR THIS DAY JULY 18th, 2022, THE CRIMINAL
TRIALS OF PAUL FLORES AND RUBEN FLORES BEGAN
PAUL WAS 45, THE SAME AGE KRISTIN WOULD HAVE BEEN.
DURING THE TRIAL, THE JUDGE ALLOWED STILL PHOTOGRAPHY BUT NO
AUDIO OR VIDEO FATHER AND SON WOULD BE TRIED IN
THE SAME COURTROOM AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WITH SEPARATE JURIES
>> YOUNG, VIBRANT, 19-YEAR-OLD WOMEN DON'T JUST VANISH INTO
THIN AIR AND LEAVE ALL OF THEIR EARTHLY POSSESSIONS AND
BELONGINGS BEHIND. IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN
>> Reporter: THE CASE AGAINST PAUL FLORES WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY
CIRCUMSTANTIAL NO DNA, NO EYEWITNESSES, AND, OF
COURSE, NO BODY. >> I -- THIS WAS THE FIRST NO
BODY CASE THAT I TRIED IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
AND I'M TRYIN' TO BUILD THAT CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE TO SHOW
THERE'S JUST NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO
KRISTIN. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR SPUN
A DECADES-LONG NARRATIVE, FROM THE NIGHT KRISTIN DISAPPEARED
ALL THE WAY TO THOSE SEARCHES AT THE FLORES HOME.
PARTYGOERS AND KRISTIN'S FRIENDS, LIKE VANESSA SHIELDS,
TOOK THE STAND WHAT'S IT'S LIKE TO WALK IN THAT
COURTROOM AND HE'S THERE >> THAT WAS TERRIFYING
I HAD TO STARE AT HIM. HE STILL HAD SAME REALLY INTENSE
STARE THAT JUST KINDA GIVES YOU THE --
THE CREEPS AND I WAS ANXIOUS.
I WAS NERVOUS. BUT THEN I JUST KEPT THINKING,
YOU KNOW, "YOU HAVE TO DO THIS FOR KRISTIN.
>> Reporter: THE JURORS WATCHED THAT 1996 INTERVIEW WITH
PAUL FLORES. >> WHY WAS IT SO HARD FOR YOU TO
TELL US THAT YOU GOT THAT BLACK EYE HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL
>> IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER >> Reporter: THEY LISTENED TO
HIS CHANGING EXPLANATIONS OF HIS BLACK EYE.
AND THEY SAW WHAT INVESTIGATORS BELIEVED WAS TELLING BODY
LANGUAGE THE BACKBONE OF THE
PROSECUTION'S CASE WAS THE FORENSICS, STARTING WITH THE
CADAVER DOGS ALERTING AT THE DORM
AND THEN DECADES LATER, THE DISCOVERY UNDER RUBEN FLORES'
DECK THE PROSECUTION BROUGHT IN A
SCIENTIST TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING CALLED A HEMDIRECT TEST THAT
DETERMINED THE SAMPLES WERE HUMAN BLOOD.
WERE YOU WORRIED AT ALL THE JURORS WEREN'T GONNA REALLY
GRASP THE -- THE TECHNICAL STUFF?
>> I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE TODAY WERE REALLY PRETTY SAVVY THANKS TO --
TO SHOWS LIKE YOURS. I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT
IF YOU TEST FOR HUMAN BLOOD, IT'S HUMAN BLOOD
>> Reporter: THE STATE'S THEORY WAS THAT FLORES MURDERED KRISTIN
WHILE RAPING HER, PART OF A PATTERN OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT
CONTINUED FOR YEARS. PROSECUTORS DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS
RAPES THEY BELIEVE PAUL FLORES COMMITTED BY DRUGGING AND
ASSAULTING WOMEN, THEN RECORDING IT ON VIDEO.
THE JUDGE ALLOWED TWO OF THOSE WOMEN TO TESTIFY ANONYMOUSLY
>> THEY SAID THEY MET PAUL AT A BAR, AND THEY WENT HOME WITH
HIM. THEY WERE GIVEN A DRINK, AND
THEN THEY DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING BESIDES BITS AND PIECES
OF BEING ASSAULTED THEY GAVE VERY EMOTIONAL, VERY,
VERY POWERFUL TESTIMONIES TO THE POINT THAT EVEN SOME JURORS
CRIED DURING IT. >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR
PEUVRELLE SAVED ONE WITNESS UNTIL THE LAST DAYS OF HIS
CASE -- THIS WOMAN HER NAME IS JENNIFER HUDSON.
SHE SAYS SHE MET PAUL FLORES IN 1996, JUST WEEKS AFTER KRISTIN
DISAPPEARED. >> WE WERE AT A SKATEBOARD RAMP
AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE, COLLEGE KIDS' HOUSE.
>> Reporter: JENNIFER WAS JUST 19 THEN, HANGING OUT WITH
FRIENDS. >> THIS GUY COMES UP AND SITS
ACROSS FROM A BUDDY AND MYSELF >> Reporter: SOMEONE HAD THE
RADIO PLAYING. >> AND AFTER A FEW SONGS, A,
LIKE, PUBLIC OUTREACH COMMERCIAL CAME ON LOOKING FOR KRISTIN.
>> Reporter: MENTIONS KRISTIN SMART BY NAME.
>> RIGHT RIGHT.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THAT GUY HAD A DRAMATIC REACTION TO
HEARING THE NAME KRISTIN SMART >> AND SAYS, "THE BITCH WAS A
TEASE AND I'M SICK OF DEALING WITH HER
AND SO I PUT HER UNDER A RAMP AT HIS PLACE IN HUASNA.
>> Reporter: HUASNA IS A RURAL AREA NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE
FLORES FAMILY LIVED. THE IMPLICATION BEING THAT
KRISTIN WAS BURIED THERE, NEAR A SKATE RAMP
YOU BELIEVE HIM? >> 1,000%.
YOU KNOW WHEN A PERSON HAS A SOUL
HE DID NOT AND THAT'S WHAT MADE ME BELIEVE
HIM. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS SHE LATER
SAW A STORY ON THE KRISTIN SMART CASE AND RECOGNIZED PAUL FLORES.
HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT GO TO POLICE BACK THEN BECAUSE, SHE
SAYS, SHE WAS SCARED AND SHE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD DO ANY
GOOD >> HAD I GONE TO THE LAW ON MY
OWN AND SAID AT ANY POINT I RAN INTO THIS GUY AND THIS IS WHAT
HE SAID, WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO ARREST HIM
NO >> Reporter: AND YOU WOULD HAVE
FELT IN DANGER >> ABSOLUTELY.
THE ONE PERSON THAT I DID TELL IN 2002 WAS A ROOMMATE OF MINE
>> Reporter: THAT ROOMMATE LATER LEFT A TIP ON A WEBSITE
DEDICATED TO FINDING KRISTIN YEARS LATER, CHRIS LAMBERT SAW
THAT POST AND TRACKED DOWN JENNIFER
AND HE PASSED HER NAME TO DETECTIVE CLINT COLE, WHICH IS
HOW JENNIFER ENDED UP TELLING HER STORY IN COURT MORE THAN
25 YEARS LATER SHE WANTS TO APOLOGIZE TO THE
SMARTS FOR NOT SPEAKING UP SOONER
>> IT STILL BOTHERS ME IF IT DIDN'T BUG ME, I'D BE AS
EVIL AS PAUL IS. >> Reporter: OVER THREE MONTHS,
THE PROSECUTION BUILT ITS CASE WHILE THE DEFENSE ARGUED THE
WHOLE THING WAS SHAKY. >> I MEAN, IT WAS HOCUS-POCUS.
>> THE VERDICT IS PASSED UP TO THE JUDGE.
YOUR HEART STARTS POUNDING OUT OF YOUR CHEST.
AND PAUL FLORES LASTED MONTHS. AT THE DEFENSE TABLE, FATHER AND
SON SAT SIDE BY SIDE THE TWO DEFENDANTS WERE
REPRESENTED BY SEPARATE ATTORNEYS.
ROBERT SANGER DEFENDED PAUL FLORES.
RUBEN'S ATTORNEY WAS HAROLD MESICK.
WHAT WAS YOUR STRATEGY GOIN' INTO TRIAL
>> OH, ATTACK THE PROSECUTION'S LACK OF EVIDENCE
THE PROSECUTION WAS VERY DEFT IN THE CASE
THEY TOOK WHAT LITTLE THEY HAD AND SPUN QUITE A STORY
>> Reporter: HIS CENTRAL FOCUS WAS ON THE FORENSICS -- THE
EVIDENCE DUG UP ON THE FLORES PROPERTY
>> I MEAN, IT WAS HOCUS-POCUS. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS BURIED
UNDER THERE IF IT WASN'T KRISTIN SMART?
>> NOTHING WAS BURIED UNDER THERE.
IT WAS JUST DISTURBED SOIL FROM A TREE BEING PULLED OUT.
>> Reporter: SO WHEN THE PROSECUTION SAYS, "THEY HAVE
TESTS CONFIRMING HUMAN BLOOD IN THE SOIL," WHAT, THEY'RE --
THEY'RE LYING ABOUT THAT >> THEY MISUSED THE HEMDIRECT
TEST IT WAS SPECIFICALLY NOT APPROVED
OR VALIDATED FOR USE TO DISCOVER SOIL IN BLOOD.
>> Reporter: TO HEAR THE DEFENSE TELL IT, IF THE CASE AGAINST
PAUL FLORES WAS WEAK, THE CASE AGAINST HIS FATHER WAS VIRTUALLY
NONEXISTENT. >> CERTAINLY, RUBEN WOULD DO
ANYTHING FOR HIS SON BUT RUBEN DIDN'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING FOR HIS SON THERE WAS NEVER A BODY IN
RUBEN'S YARD, EVER >> Reporter: AS FOR
JENNIFER HUDSON AND HER STORY -- >> JENNIFER HUDSON'S TESTIMONY I
THINK WAS SUSPECT. I THINK THE WAY IT WAS BROUGHT
TO LIGHT BY THE PODCAST AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A
$75,000 REWARD -- I JUST DID NOT FIND HER CREDIBLE AT ALL
>> Reporter: ALSO NOT CREDIBLE TO THE DEFENSE -- THE PREVAILING
NOTION THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE FLORES FAMILY PROTECTED PAUL
>> THEY'RE A SWEET FAMILY. THEY'VE BEEN TOTALLY
MISCHARACTERIZED IN THE PRESS. >> Reporter: WHY -- WHY DO YOU
THINK THE FLORES FAMILY, THIS SWEET, KIND FAMILY WOULD BE SO
ANTAGONISTIC AND SO UNWILLING TO HELP THE SMART FAMILY WHEN THEY
REACHED OUT FOR HELP FOR THEIR MISSING DAUGHTER
>> THEY WERE APPROACHED IN A WAY THAT THEY WERE THIS EVIL CRIME
FAMILY THAT CAUSED THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A YOUNG GIRL.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE >> Reporter: IN COURT, MESICK
ECHOED A THEORY CAMPUS POLICE HAD PURSUED MORE THAN A QUARTER
CENTURY EARLIER -- MAYBE KRISTIN JUST TOOK OFF.
>> WHAT I SAID WAS, "WITHOUT A BODY, WE CAN'T BE SURE SHE'S
DEAD." AND I KNOW THAT'S HURTFUL MAYBE
TO HEAR, THE SMART FAMILY. BUT RUBEN'S NOT A PART OF THIS,
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE KRISTIN IS
>> Reporter: YOU'RE A SMART GUY. I DON'T EVEN THINK YOU BELIEVE
KRISTIN SMART'S ALIVE SOMEWHERE. >> I DO BELIEVE WITH ALL MY
HEART THAT SHE MAY BE ALIVE. IT MAY BE A SLIM CHANCE, BUT
THERE'S A CHANCE THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE BODY.
LET -- LET -- LET ME ASK YOU THE QUESTION
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE SHE'S DEAD? 'CAUSE SHE'S MISSING
>> Reporter: NO SHE'S NOT -- NOT JUST THAT SHE'S MISSING.
SHE HASN'T CONTACTED HER FAMILY. SHE DIDN'T CONTACT ANY OF HER
FRIENDS. SHE WASN'T THE SORT OF PERSON TO
JUST UP AND DISAPPEAR. IF SHE HAD DISAPPEARED, SHE
WOULDA TAKEN HER STUFF WITH HER. AND SHE WAS LAST SEEN IN THE
COMPANY OF A GUY WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD A HISTORY OF WEIRD SEXUAL
BEHAVIOR TOWARDS WOMAN, AND LATER WAS ACCUSED OF A NUMBER OF
RAPES, AND OF DRUGGING WOMEN AND HAVING SEX WITH THEM, AND HE WAS
THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER ALIVE.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T THINK SHE'S AROUND
THE DEFENSE CONCEDES NONE OF THAT
>> THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE AGAIN IS WEAK, INSUFFICIENT.
AND I'M GONNA GET A LOTTA HEAT FOR THAT
BUT I'M A DEFENSE ATTORNEY SO I GET A LOTTA HEAT
>> Reporter: ON OCTOBER 18th, THE JURIES WERE BACK IN THE
COURTROOM, THIS TIME, WITH VERDICTS
PAUL FLORES -- GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
>> I MEAN, I JUST KINDA DOUBLED UP
EVEN THOUGH I WANTED IT, IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS SO UNREAL THAT
THIS JURY HAD ACTUALLY LISTENED. >> Reporter: RUBEN FLORES' JURY
FOUND HIM NOT GUILTY >> WE -- WE GOT THE ELEPHANT, WE
DIDN'T GET THE MOUSE >> Reporter: CAN YOU LIVE WITH
THAT >> WE -- DO WE HAVE AN OPTION?
>> DON'T HAVE A CHOICE THIS IS A PARENT'S WORST
NIGHTMARE. >> Reporter: AT PAUL FLORES'
SENTENCING HEARING EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE SMARTS CAME ONE BY
ONE TO THE PODIUM. >> AND WE HAVE WAITED LONG
ENOUGH FOR THIS DAY. >> Reporter: TO ADDRESS THE
JUDGE, AND FLORES. EACH FOUGHT BACK TEARS
[ CRYING ] >> Reporter: DENISE WAS LAST TO
SPEAK, WITH ONE FINAL APPEAL TO PAUL FLORES -- RETURN KRISTIN TO
HER FAMILY >> IT IS CLEARLY TOO LATE FOR
US, BUT PAUL, IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU TO TELL THE TRUTH TO
FREE YOUR SOUL AND YOUR HEART FROM THE WEIGHT IT MUST BE
CARRYING YOU ARE, AFTER ALL, A HUMAN
BEING. >> Reporter: DURING THAT,
PAUL FLORES DIDN'T DO AS MUCH AS TURN HIS HEAD.
>> HE'S -- HE'S JUST SOULLESS, A SOULLESS CREATURE.
>> Reporter: THE JUDGE AGREED. >> WHAT THIS SENTENCE WILL
PROVIDE IS ACCOUNTABILITY, MR. FLORES
YOU HAVE BEEN A CANCER TO SOCIETY.
YOU ARE COMMITTED TO THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE THAT I CAN IMPOSE BY
LAW, AN INDETERMINANT TERM OF 25 YEARS TO LIFE
>> Reporter: IF IT WERE UP TO THE SMARTS, PAUL FLORES'
SENTENCE WOULD BE LONGER >> MY NEXT MISSION IN LIFE IS TO
ENSURE THAT THERE IS AN ENHANCEMENT FOR THOSE WHO MURDER
SOMEONE AND HARBOR THEIR BODY. >> Reporter: HOW WOULD THAT HELP
YOU? >> IT WOULD HELP US BECAUSE
THERE WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE FOR HIM TO COME FORWARD AND TELL US
WHERE KRISTIN IS IF THEY ADDED TEN YEARS TO HIS
SENTENCE, IT'S PROBABLE THAT HE MIGHT GIVE THIS A SECOND
THOUGHT. >> Reporter: ANOTHER MISSION --
IN THE WAKE OF THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH CAL POLY CAMPUS POLICE, THE
SMARTS TOOK ACTION THEY HELPED PASS THE
KRISTIN SMART SAFETY ACT IN CALIFORNIA, REQUIRING CAMPUS
POLICE TO COORDINATE WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
NOW, THEY WANT THAT EXPANDED >> WELL IT SHOULD BE NATIONWIDE.
WE'RE NOT TRAINING CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH HOMICIDES
OR KIDNAPPINGS >> Reporter: IN RESPONSE TO OUR
REQUESTS FOR AN INTERVIEW, THE CAL POLY ADMINISTRATION POINTED
OUT THAT THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION INTO KRISTIN'S
CASE TOOK PLACE UNDER DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP
THE ADMINISTRATION CALLED HER CASE "AN ANOMALY" AND SAID,
"TERRIBLE THINGS CAN, AND DO STILL HAPPEN IN 'SAFE' PLACES"
IN RESPONSE TO OUR SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT HOW CAMPUS POLICE
RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT KRISTIN'S SEX LIFE AND OTHER PERSONAL
DETAILS, THE UNIVERSITY SAID THAT "THIS SITUATION SHOULD HAVE
BEEN HANDLED MUCH DIFFERENTLY. IT IS NEVER APPROPRIATE TO
DESCRIBE A VICTIM AS PROMISCUOUS AND IT RUNS COMPLETELY COUNTER
TO OUR PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES."
>> SANGER SAYS DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY -
>> Reporter: CHRIS LAMBERT IS WORKING ON THE FINAL EPISODE OF
HIS PODCAST, VERY MUCH AWARE OF WHAT HIS CURIOSITY HELPED BRING
ABOUT. >> -- TESTIFY ANYWAY
I'VE BEEN ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED BY THE LOSS OF SOMEBODY I NEVER
EVEN GOT TO MEET AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HAD IT BEEN
MY OWN FAMILY MEMBER >> Reporter: TIME HAS NOT DULLED
THE SMARTS' MEMORIES OF KRISTIN. >> SHE JUST ALWAYS BELIEVED IN
HER FUTURE SHE JUST KNEW WHAT SHE WANTED TO
DO >> SHE HAD WONDERFUL HUGS, AND
SMILES SHE WAS A CHEERLEADER FOR OUR
OTHER TWO CHILDREN >> Reporter: LONG AGO, THE
SMARTS FOUND A WAY TO NAVIGATE THEIR LOSS TO TAKE THAT ADVICE,
AND TO BE PRESENT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
I'M GLAD YOU LISTENED TO THAT. >> WELL, I WASN'T HAPPY AT THE
TIME, BUT IN RETROSPECT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING -- RIGHT THING
TO HEAR. >> Reporter: A STRONG FAMILY, A
HAPPY ONE. THAT LOVE FUELS THE SMARTS, EVEN
THOUGH THEY STILL DON'T HAVE A DAUGHTER TO BURY
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS FEELING OUT THERE IN THE WORLD BY PEOPLE
WHO DON'T KNOW YOU, THAT NOW WE'RE AT THE END, YOU KNOW
"HE'S BEEN LOCKED UP YOU SHOULD BE OKAY NOW."
[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S NOT THE END.
>> Reporter: YEAH, AND THIS DOESN'T GO AWAY, DOES IT
>> NO. >> YOU KNOW AS A MOTHER, I FEEL
LIKE I HAVE A PIECE OF HER WITHIN ME.
SO IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S A DEATH THAT IS NEVER GOING TO GO
AWAY >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT
7:00, 6:00 CENTRAL, AND OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH
WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.