Boyfriend of famed footwear lover charged with her murder
A Menifee man who allegedly killed his 58-year-oldgirlfriend — a renowned footwear collector found dead in her backyard swimmingpool — was charged today with murder.
Justin Charles Smith, 29, was arrested Monday afternoon and held withoutbail in connection with the death of Darlene Flynn, whose vast collection ofshoes and shoe-related products landed her in the Guinness Book of WorldRecords in 2006.
Along with the murder count, Smith faces a sentence-enhancing allegationof using a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He’s slated to bearraigned this afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were called to the victim’sresidence in the 28800 block of Stone Lane around 2 p.m. Monday after receivingcalls about a domestic disturbance involving a man and woman, screaming at oneanother.
Deputies knocked on the front door of the house repeatedly but receivedno response, said sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Torrenti.
“While attempting to make entry, deputies noticed a shirtless malerunning from the rear of the residence,” Torrenti said. “A perimeter wasestablished, and the male was located (hours later) near the intersection ofBriggs Road and Highway 74.”
Smith was arrested without incident.
Back at the house, deputies pulled Flynn out of the pool and conducted apreliminary examination to determine a possible cause of death. Torrenti saidthe fatally injured woman “had injuries consistent with blunt force trauma.”
Flynn, dubbed “The Shoe Lady” and the “Queen of Sole,” had amassedmore than 16,000 shoes and shoe-related products. The collection, whichincludes heels, sneakers, boots, stockings — even pillows shaped as shoes –has an estimated value in excess of $500,000, according to published reports.
Court records show Smith has a prior misdemeanor conviction for grandtheft from September 2012. He was sentenced to three years probation in thatcase.
