Man convicted in Kristin Smart’s murder was in critical condition after being attacked at Pleasant Valley State Prison

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — One week after being relocated to the Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, Paul Flores has been hospitalized after being attacked in prison. The 46-year-old was admitted into the hospital after reportedly being attacked on Wednesday, July 23. Circumstances surrounding his injuries are being investigated.

Flores was convicted last October for the murder of 19-year-old Cal Poly student Kristin Smart back in 1996. This March, he was sentenced to 25 years to life. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) he is eligible for parole in August of 2037.

Harold Mesick, who is now serving as Flores’s attorney, told Atascadero News that Flores was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition. His status has now been upgraded to fair condition, but there is no information available as to what hospital he is in or when he will be released. 

More information is expected to be released in the next few days.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes released.