The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has concluded its latest search for Kristin Smart’s remains at a property in Arroyo Grande, California, but no human remains were recovered. The search, conducted at the home of Susan Flores—mother of Paul Flores, the man convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022—used ground-penetrating radar and soil testing to investigate potential burial sites. Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated that investigators believed scientific evidence suggested human remains may have once been present at the property. The search began after a warrant was served earlier this week, following similar searches in 2020.
Kristin Smart, a California Polytechnic State University student, disappeared in 1996 after attending an off-campus party. Paul Flores was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, though he has maintained his innocence and is appealing the conviction. The sheriff’s office remains committed to finding Smart’s remains and bringing closure to her family. No further updates are planned at this time.