Smith speaks out as a free man

Robert Pape and Cristin Smith were not in the courtroom Friday morning as all of the charges against them were dropped. Instead, they remained behind bars in Riverside.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office dismissed all charges against two men who had been charged with the 2006 murders of three people found dead at their Pinyon Pines home.

Once all of the charges against them were dropped, it still took some time until they were released. We were the only TV news crew in Riverside when that happened.

It was a very emotional and very long day for everyone involved. News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 along with members of Smith’s family waited for hours outside of the Riverside County jail, but Friday’s wait was nothing compared to the last six months both Smith and Pape spent in jail accused of these murders.

It was just before 3 o’clock Friday afternoon Cristin Smith and Robert Pape walked out of the Robert Presley Detention Center as free men.

Smith walked out with his parents by his side and immediately greeted members of his family who had spent hours waiting outside for his release.

Smith became emotional when he took his newborn daughter Zoey into his arms for the first time.

“I just want to be with my baby girl, my beautiful baby girl and my amazing wife and my whole family and my brothers over in the military that have been loyal to me throughout this whole thing. I just hope I can move on with my life and put this behind me,” said Cristin Smith.

Smith did not let go of his little girl until she was safe in her car seat. He sat next to her in the back seat as they drove home.

Robert Pape was released at the same time. He walked out behind Smith and was left without comment.