Arraignment delayed for man accused of killing shoe record-holder

The arraignment for the man accused of killing his girlfriend, who held the Guinness World Record for shoe-related items, has been continued until next month.

Justin Charles Smith, 29, was charged with killing Darlene Flynn, 58, who was found dead in Menifee on Monday in her backyard pool by authorities responding to reports of domestic violence.

Smith was arrested after officers found him running shirtless from the Stone Lane residence. His arraignment was continued until Aug. 8, according to the Riverside County district attorney’s office.

It’s unclear if investigators have recovered a weapon from Flynn’s ranch-style home, but they did say Flynn was found with signs of blunt-force trauma.

Court records also show signs of a troubled relationship. Last year, Smith was convicted of misdemeanor grand theft for taking a car. He pleaded guilty after prosecutors dropped two felony charges and he got 180 days in jail and three years’ probation.

Flynn filed a small claims court action against him.

Deputies responded Monday afternoon to reports of a possible domestic violence incident, and found Smith with no shirt running from the Stone Lane home.

Shortly after Smith was apprehended near Briggs Road and Highway 74, deputies found Flynn, 58, dead in the backyard pool.

Authorities have yet to release an official cause of death. Smith is expected to be arraigned Thursday.

In September 2012, Guinness World Records reported that Flynn’s collection of 14,684 shoe-related items was the largest on the planet.

The collection included a replica of Cinderella’s glass slipper and “takes over the entire house, spilling over into the pool and bar areas as well,” according to a Guinness World Records release. Her two dogs were named Shoesy-Q and Bootsy Shoebert.

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richard.winton@latimes.com