Investigators in California have learned the body of Kristin Smart, the college student that went missing in 1996, was buried under the home of Ruben Flores, the father of murder suspect Paul Flores, and “recently” moved.

Court documents that were filed on Monday and later posted online revealed Smart’s body was buried underneath the deck of Ruben Flores’ house.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Peuvrelle accused Ruben Flores of covering up Smart’s murder, according to the county probation bail report.

“Ruben Flores has repeatedly lied over the course of 24 years and has been uncooperative with law enforcement with the specific intent of aiding Paul Flores escape prosecution,” Peuvrelle was quoted saying in the report.

“The excavation below his deck at 710 White Court showed damning evidence that a body had been buried in that location and then recently moved.”

Peuvrelle also claimed, “dozens of women have recounted Paul Flores’ sexual assaults and predatory behavior that document his 25 years as a serial rapist.”

A spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo Superior Court told CNN those court documents were “not supposed to be made public” and were “inadvertently accessed.”

Both men were arrested on April 13 and booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. On Monday, the father and son pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and accessory.

At the time, the judge ordered Paul Flores to be held without bail. Meanwhile, Ruben Flores was being held on $250,000 bail. On Wednesday, his bail was reduced to $50,000.

However, the judge required Ruben Flores to surrender his passport within 24 hours of returning home and wear an electronic monitoring device if released.

He was reportedly released Wednesday night around 11 p.m. Officials believe Paul Flores murdered Smart during a rape or attempted rape.

He was last seen walking Smart to her dorm after a party in May 1996 just before her disappearance.

handcuffs-354042_1920
Representational image Photo by Pixabay (CC0)