Smart’s Attorney James Murphy Files Lawsuit Against Ruben Flores •

Flores’ repository, along with two others, moved the remains of Christine Smart in 2020

Today is the 22nd. In April, James Murphy, an attorney for the Smart family, filed an intentional claim against Ruben Flores for emotional distress.

Murphy is the civil attorney for Stan and Denise Smart, who are suing Ruben Flores for emotional damages in connection with the 1997 disappearance of their daughter, Christine Smart, a student at Cal Poly

Ruben Flores, 80, is the father of Paul Flores, 44, who is currently in jail on charges of murdering Christine Smart.

Ruben Flores was charged with accessory to murder; he allegedly helped hide Smart’s body after the murder.

Monday the 19th. In April, Ruben Flores, 80, attorney for Harold Mesick, pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to the murder of Christine Smart.

During Ruben Flores’ bail hearing on Wednesday. On the 21st. In April, Judge Van Rooyen reduced Ruben’s bail from $250,000 to $50,000.

That same night, less than 12 hours before the complaint was filed, Ruben Flores was released on bail from the San Luis OBISPO COUNTY Jail by his wife, Susan Flores.

The lawsuit states:

The 5th. In February 2020, deputies from the SAN LUIS OBISPO Sheriff’s Department filed a search warrant for suspect Ruben Flores. The warrant authorized a search of the premises at : 710 White Court, Arroyo Grande

On or around the 9th. In February 2020, defendant Ruben Flores removed the remains of Christine Smart, which he said were located at his address: 710 White Court, Arroyo Grande.

It is alleged that after the search by the sheriff in February 2020, a witness saw Ruben Flores and two others [Susan Flores and Mike McConville] searching the backyard late at night.

Two other individuals later named as defendants in this case, along with defendant Ruben Flores, participated in the removal of Christine Smart’s remains from the site located at : 710 White Court, Arroyo Grande.

Defendant Ruben Flores, on or about February 9, 2020, acted in aiding and abetting and conspiring with the unidentified defendants in the removal of the remains of Christine Smart from the cemetery within the latticework under the patio of Defendant Ruben Flores’ residence in White Court.

In the complaint, Murphy alleges that defendants Ruben Flores and Doe 1 and 2 worked through the night in the dark to remove the remains of Christine Smart to prevent the remains from being found at 710 White Burner if the premises were searched again.

According to KSBY, Murphy said in an interview that witnesses saw Ruben Flores, Susan Flores and their friend Mike McConville (named as defendants one and two in the lawsuit) on the evening of the 9th. February 2020 worked under Ruben’s house in Arroyo Grande.

Murphy said there was overwhelming evidence that Christine’s remains had been removed from Reuben’s property and scattered throughout the Huasna area.

Huasna area outside Arroyo Grande

The complaint states that Christine Smart’s remains have been moved at least three times since she disappeared from the Cal Poly campus 25 years ago

The complaint reads: Defendant Ruben Flores had previously transported the body of Christine Smart from Cal Poly’s Paul Flores Dormitory to the original burial site at defendant Ruben Flores’ home.

Murphy sued Ruben and Paul Flores in 1997, but the suit was dismissed when Ruben Flores filed for bankruptcy.

This story is ongoing and will be updated as new information becomes available.