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Why I wrote this book | Chapter 1: Ruben Laughs | Chapter 2: Meet Paul Flores | Chapter 3: Meeting Susan Flores | The Walk | Chapter 4: Meeting Ruben Flores | Chapter 5: Meeting Stan and Denise Smart
Chapter 1: Ruben Laughs
Ruben Flores Laughed in Denise Smart's Face
Funny Ruben.
The first thing I want people to know about this case is that while no one was looking, Ruben Flores, the suspect's father, took it upon himself to laugh in Mrs. Smart's face.
It is very important that the Arroyo Grande community know about how this Flores "family" is behaving. As you read the chapters in my unfolding book, you are going to get mad, and I hope that enough people stay mad enough, long enough so that Kristin is eventually found and returned to her family.
You may know bits and pieces about Kristin Smart's disappearance, stick with me and I will make you an expert on this case.
I was visiting Denise Smart at her home in Stockton, Ca late in 2001 and as usual we were discussing the sadness that is omnipresent in her life. Denise has had it about as rough as it gets in this world. Her daughter has died and her body cannot be found. Like OJ, everyone knows that Paul Flores is involved and he has never been arrested for this crime.
Add to this the fact that this happened in May, 1996. Since then, it seems as though life has moved on and finding Kristin is not a priority anymore.
Put yourself in her situation. Try putting your head on your pillow tonight with that on your mind. Your daughter loses her life at just 19 years of age, her body cannot be found and God knows what may have happened to her! How does the human brain even begin to process that?
I remember I was sitting at the computer desk in Denise's living room and she was sitting across from me on her couch. It was late afternoon and it was rainy and cold outside. It is odd how you remember details like that at "important" moments. Yet remember this moment I certainly do. Denise went on to share with me the second worst moment in her life.
It was November 14th, 1997. Their very able attorney, Jim Murphy, has worked very hard on this case and was able to schedule a deposition to be held in San Luis Obispo.
Essentially, a deposition, as I understand it, is a legal step where both parties come together and answer questions before going to court. This deposition included Kristin's mom and dad representing decency, and the Flores family attorney DeLaMotta, Paul Flores and his parents, (Ruben and Susan), ably representing the dark side of human nature.
Midway through the deposition both sides took a break and Denise was finding herself overcome with "silent and internal" grief. Not wanting to burst out crying and finding it difficult to hold herself together, she ducked into a vacant conference room and closed the door. Alone at last, she could open the valves of her emotions and "just let it all out"!
Incredibly, Paul's father Ruben, Mr. Model Citizen, opened the door to the conference room and walked right on in. Denise was horrified and felt trapped. Ruben took a good long look at her, a smile broke out on his face and he then proceeded to laugh right in her face!
A quiet laugh, mind you. Just loud enough that it would destroy Denise's fragile sense of being, but certainly not loud enough to alert other people out in the hall.
He just laughed. When he had enough, he turned around and walked out the door.
Funny Ruben.
Denise is telling me this story but her mind is elsewhere. When I talk to Denise, sometimes I get the sense that she is so overwhelmed by the magnitude of what has happened that it is hard for her to keep her grip on reality. She is sad and she is also a fierce fighter. It is an amazing thing about parents. God seems to have wired parents to "bend but never break." I see that all too clearly when I speak with Denise. She can't afford to break, Kristin needs her family now more than ever. She cannot go to them so her family and friends need to go to her.
Denise finished the story and almost "lifelessly" said to me, "Dennis, besides losing Kristin, that was the worst moment in my life."
I will never forget Denise sharing this with me. It had such an impact that I wanted to put this in my first chapter of this book. People need to know about this.