FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) – Paul Flores, the convicted killer of Kristin Smart, has been attacked for a second time at the Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says on Wednesday, just before 3:30 p.m., staff saw Flores being stabbed by another inmate in the recreation yard.
Officers quickly stopped the attack using verbal commands.
Staff found two weapons made by inmates at the scene.
Flores was injured and was taken to a hospital outside the prison for a higher level of care.
He has since returned to the prison, and said to be in fair condition as of Thursday morning.
19 year-old Kristin Smart had disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo over Memorial Day weekend in 1996.
Paul Flores had long been considered a suspect in the killing. He had a black eye when investigators interviewed him. He claimed he got it playing basketball with friends. They denied his account. According to court records, Flores changed his story claiming to have bumped his head while working on his car.
Kristin Smart’s remains have never been found, but she was declared legally dead in 2002.
On March 10, 2023, Flores was sentenced 25 years or life in prison. Prior to sentencing, a judge denied a motion from Flores’ attorney seeking a second trial.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
