Kristin Smart's convicted killer Paul Flores to be sentenced Friday
After a long and winding road, the Kristin Smart murder trial is finally coming to a close.
Watch CBS News
After a long and winding road, the Kristin Smart murder trial is finally coming to a close.
The guilty verdict in the Kristin Smart murder case is finally giving the Smart family a sense of justice, although the painful wait to locate her body continues. No one knows that pain better than the family of Christie Wilson, whose body was not discovered for 15 years after she was murdered in Placer County.
See the major events in the timeline spanning from when Smart was reported missing to the guilty verdict handed to Paul Flores and a not-guilty verdict for his father, Ruben Flores.
The family of Kristin Smart, who disappeared 26 years ago and has never been found, finally found justice after her convicted killer, Paul Flores, was convicted of murder. Paul will be sentenced in December.
During Tuesday's press conference about the Flores murder verdict, Kristin Smart's father thanked podcaster Chris Lambert for helping solve the case. Lambert grew up near where Kristin vanished and started looking into what happened the night of May 24, 1996.
Ruben Flores was asked how he felt knowing his son was found guilty. He said: "It's hard for me to describe it. All that stuff they say is evidence -- you look through it, and there is no evidence against anybody -- me or Paul," "Too much made-up stuff. That's all I can say."
The Paul Flores jury made their announcement first in court on Tuesday. Smart's former Cal Poly classmate was found guilty of first-degree murder. The deputy DA, who prosecuted the case, spoke about the trial.
"Today, Justice Delayed is not justice denied," said Sheriff Ian Parkinson.
Kristin Smart's father thanked many people, including podcaster Chris Lambert, who has "poured his heart and soul" into the Kristin Smart story. He’s credited with reigniting interest in this case and bringing witnesses forward after years of silence. The Paul Flores jury made their announcement first in court on Tuesday. Kristin Smart's former Cal Poly classmate was found guilty of first-degree murder in the commission or attempted commission of rape in her death. Kristin disappeared 26 years ago.
The trials were heard together for nearly three months, but Paul and Ruben were being tried separately.
Ruben Flores, the father of the man now convicted of killing Kristin Smart, has been found not guilty of being an accessory after the fact
Verdicts for both Paul and Ruben Flores are in and will be read in court, one after the other, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
A verdict has now been reached in the trial of both Paul and Ruben Flores. It will be read at 1:30 p.m.
The juries deliberating in the trial of the murder of Kristin Smart have now reached a verdict for both Ruben and Paul Flores.
Two juries are in deliberation in the Kristin Smart murder trial and will decide if Smart's former Cal Poly classmate and his father are responsible for her disappearance.
Two juries are in deliberation in the Kristin Smart murder trial and will decide if Smart's former Cal Poly classmate and his father are responsible for her disappearance.
The jury deliberating in the Kristin Smart murder trial has reached a verdict for Ruben Flores.
A verdict in the murder of Kristin Smart could be just days away. The court is taking a scheduled break until Thursday. Paul Flores is accused of raping and killing Smart after an off-campus at Cal Poly back in 1996. His father, Ruben, is charged with hiding her body, which has never been found. The men were tried together with separate juries. Both juries have to reach a verdict before either is announced.
The men are being tried together, but with separate juries. Paul is accused of killing a Kristin Smart, a Stockton woman. Ruben, his father, is accused of helping dispose of the victim's body, which has never been found.
A verdict is closer for the trial of two men accused in connection with the disappearance of Kristin Smart. Paul Flores’ jury has the case and is deliberating after closing arguments Monday.
Prosecutors say they've laid out evidence that shows Paul Flores killed Smart and buried her body in his father, Ruben's, backyard.
The two are accused of killing and hiding the body of Kirstin Smart in San Luis Obispo.
The trial was delayed after a juror emergency. Paul Flores is accused of killing Smart after an off-campus party. His father is accused of helping him dispose of Smart's body.
The eighth week of testimony began Monday as jurors heard from a witness who said Paul Flores admitted to killing Stockton teen and Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart in 1996.
A witness took jurors back to 1996, after Cal Poly freshman and Stockton native Kristin Smart disappeared, to a social gathering where she met Paul Flores, who, she said, admitted to Smart's killing.
The abundance of green space is just one of the reasons why Elk Grove is being named the best place to live in California, according to Livability, which also names it the sixth best city in the West.
Fire crews in Stockton responded to two separate house fires Monday evening, including one that left six people hospitalized.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews are investigating an explosion that injured a woman Monday evening at an apartment in the Arden-Arcade area.
Fresh off a huge night at the 2026 Academy Awards for the Sacramento-filmed Best Picture-winner "One Battle After Another," a new movie is set to begin filming in California's El Dorado County.
A California couple is facing dozens of criminal charges, including torture and child abuse, after investigators say an 11-year-old girl endured at least a year of severe physical abuse while living in their custody.
Authorities have made an arrest in the cold case disappearance of California teenager Victoria Marquina.
Fire crews in Stockton responded to two separate house fires Monday evening, including one that left six people hospitalized.
The abundance of green space is just one of the reasons why Elk Grove is being named the best place to live in California, according to Livability, which also names it the sixth best city in the West.
A high-pressure system moving into the region will bring above-average temperatures and is expected to set record highs for the month of March in Sacramento.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews are investigating an explosion that injured a woman Monday evening at an apartment in the Arden-Arcade area.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews are investigating an explosion that injured a woman Monday evening at an apartment in the Arden-Arcade area.
Around 12:01 a.m., a man and woman were inside a vehicle on the 4400 block of Auburn Boulevard when they were shot. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the man was taken to the hospital, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said.
New moves have been made to support more permanent housing in Sacramento, but some fear it could put some short-term rentals like Airbnbs out of business.
The Sacramento Police Department said officers shot a suspect near an elementary school in the Northgate area on Tuesday evening after responding to reports of a person armed with a knife.
While the infant was being taken to an area hospital, officials said the child's pulse returned and they began breathing on their own.
San Jose, Livermore, Napa, Concord, and many other inland areas will be within reach of the 90° mark, which would either tie or break all-time record warm temperatures for March. The reason? A strong area of high pressure is building overhead.
The war with Iran is now leading to growing concerns among California farmers over a fertilizer shortage, with many fertilizing products coming from shipments that are stuck in the Persian Gulf. tuck in the Persian Gulf.
Getting a gallon of gas for under $3? In California, it's possible if you choose the right pump.
Drivers across California are feeling the impact of soaring gas prices in what feels like overnight.
An 8-year-old child was airlifted to a hospital after plunging 30 feet from a chair lift at the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort over the weekend, authorities said.
The U.S. men's national soccer team is expected to debut the new uniforms later this month in Atlanta, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting in June.
DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 41 points and had 11 assists to help the Sacramento Kings hold off the Utah Jazz 116-111.
Russell Westbrook had 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 209th career triple-double and DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 118-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The San Francisco 49ers have signed free agent linebacker Dre Greenlaw, welcoming back an impact player and fan favorite whose absence was felt on the defensive squad.
After winning two gold medals at the Winter Olympics, Alysa Liu received a hero's welcome at a hometown celebration in Oakland.
A judge blocked a set of changes to the childhood vaccine schedule recommended by allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul federal vaccine policy.
In an exclusive interview with CBS News Saturday, Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr doubled down on his warning that broadcast licenses could be revoked amid President Trump's criticisms of media coverage of the war in Iran.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr did not name specific networks, but his post included a reference to a Saturday morning Truth Social post from the president.
TSA officers faced their first full missed paycheck Friday.
A federal judge has quashed a pair of grand jury subpoenas sent to the Federal Reserve Board as part of a criminal probe by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office.
Food containing norovirus may smell and taste normal but still cause serious illness if consumed, FDA warns.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wants the popular coffee chains to prove their surgery drinks are safe for teens and suggested the Trump administration could place limits on your cup of coffee.
Public health officials say they've confirmed two cases of measles in Sacramento County.
Multiple elephant seal pups along the Northern California coast have tested positive for the deadly avian influenza, or bird flu, according to new research from the University of California.
Here's what to know about TrumpRx, including how it works, who can use it, and how much money it can save.
Finding the perfect dress isn't easy, but now, selling them could become a lot more challenging.
This weekend, Placer County is hosting its annual Sip Into Spring event, offering free or discounted tastings at more than 20 wineries along what's known as the Placer Wine Trail.
From fruits and veggies to car parts, economists project that businesses will pass along the cost of the tariffs to customers.
An economic blackout was underway Friday as activists nationwide encouraged people not to spend their money at large corporations, retailers and fast-food chains for 24 hours.
San Joaquin County's retail theft reporting app has only been around for six months and is already bringing a sense of calmness to local business owners.
President Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom have made several different claims about California gas prices. Here's what we found.
This year-long investigation provides an unprecedented look at California's one-party supermajority legislature through the eyes of grieving parents who discover how California lawmakers kill popular bills by not voting.
This year-long investigation by CBS News California investigative correspondent Julie Watts examines the many components of California's new tougher-on-crime law.
A Natomas mother demanded that her daughter be exhumed and cremated after a Sacramento cemetery moved her grave without telling the family.
The California Highway Patrol captain accused of workers' compensation fraud was the commander in charge of the fatal Mahaney Park shootout in Roseville, three officers who worked under him at the time of the shootout said.
CBS13 and the Call Kurtis consumer investigative team devised an idea on how to lower what consumers owe on their credit cards -- and it begins with a simple phone call.
No one wants to think about death. However, it's important to plan on what happens to your digital assets after you die.
After spending $18,000 on waterproof laminate floors, a Natomas couple spotted damage after the first cleaning.
More than a year after Hai Pham canceled the trial membership, he kept getting charged every month for it.
A Natomas mother demanded that her daughter be exhumed and cremated after a Sacramento cemetery moved her grave without telling the family.
Six months after a California wildfire destroyed dozens of homes in the Tuolumne County community of Chinese Camp, officials say debris removal is now complete and properties are being returned to their owners.
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the Tiger Fire that burned 118 acres in California's Amador County last summer and forced evacuations near Pioneer.
A major home developer is rethinking how communities are built in wildfire-prone areas and the future is taking shape in El Dorado County.
San Joaquin County secured a grant aimed at helping to build a wildfire protection plan for the entire county.
More than two dozen structures were destroyed in a wildfire in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
A Sacramento County dog picked up thousands of miles from home after he went missing five years ago was reunited with his family on Wednesday.
What started as a suspicious circumstances call for Rancho Cordova police ended with a newborn surprise.
A once-empty lot behind Church of the Cross in north Modesto now hosts a thriving community garden with more than 140 plots and growers from across the globe.
A Sacramento-area middle school history and English teacher is in the running to win big as America's Favorite Teacher, a title her students think she is more than worthy of being awarded.
Junior Romello Bruhn of Woodland Christian High School is closer than ever to scoring 3,000 career points, something only 13 high school athletes have accomplished in California state history.
Joshua Anthony Martinez was originally arrested in connection to the Amador County girl's disappearance in October 2019, but was released from custody. Now, the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office confirmed Monday that Martinez has been arrested again in connection to the case. According to the jail booking log, Martinez is facing charges of murder along with several alleged sex crimes with a minor.
The abundance of green space is just one of the reasons why Elk Grove is being named the best place to live in California, according to Livability, which also names it the sixth best city in the West.
A total of six people were taken to the hospital. Officials said one person was in critical condition, two suffered moderate injuries and three others had minor injuries.
Fresh off a huge night at the 2026 Academy Awards for the Sacramento-filmed Best Picture-winner "One Battle After Another," a new movie is set to begin filming in California's El Dorado County.
Nina Burns reports.