"Until we have Kristin, everything is still wide open."
Search for Kristin Smart Ends at Susan Flores Property; No Remains Recovered
Arroyo Grande, CA — Investigators from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a multi-day search of an Arroyo Grande property belonging to Susan Flores, mother of convicted murderer Paul Flores, from May 6 to May 9, 2026. The search, authorized by a court warrant, did not recover the remains of Kristin Smart.
Authorities confirmed that soil testing at the property indicated the presence of human remains, though these could not be specifically identified as Smart's.
Background
Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, disappeared on May 25, 1996, after attending an off-campus party. She was declared legally dead in 2002.
Paul Flores, the last person seen with Smart, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Smart was killed during an attempted rape and that her remains were initially buried at the home of Paul Flores' father, Ruben Flores, and later moved. Ruben Flores was charged with being an accessory after the fact but was acquitted in 2022.
Smart's body has never been found. A 2019 podcast, "Your Own Backyard," renewed public interest in the case, leading to additional witness testimony and arrests in 2021. In 2024, a judge ordered Paul Flores to pay over $350,000 to Smart's family for costs incurred after her death.
The Search
The property in question is the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, located in the 500 block of East Branch Street. Susan Flores has not been charged with any crime related to the case.
On May 6, 2026, sheriff's investigators served a search warrant at the property. The search involved Sheriff Ian Parkinson, ground-penetrating radar experts, soil scientists, and an environmental engineer. The team included environmental engineer Timothy Nelligan, soil scientist Steve Hoyt, and retired FBI forensic chemist Brian Eckenrode.
Scientific Evidence
The search was prompted by soil vapor sampling conducted in 2023 and 2021, which detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) consistent with decomposing human remains near the property line. Sheriff Parkinson stated on May 8 that the testing indicated "evidence to support human remains – there at one time." The soil vapor sampling technique used is still in the research stage and has not been used in criminal proceedings.
In 2021, a team of scientists detected VOCs possibly associated with decomposing human remains in a neighbor's backyard. Previous searches of properties owned by Paul Flores' parents in 2021, including by cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar, did not uncover remains.
Investigation Conclusion
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office concluded the search on May 9, 2026, without recovering Smart's remains. In a statement, the office said:
"We did not recover Kristin Smart. Detectives will be evaluating any evidence we have recovered to aid in the investigation. The Sheriff's Office remains fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family."
Sheriff Parkinson stated on May 8: "Until we have Kristin, everything is still wide open." He noted that the investigation would continue "until we absolutely have no where to go." Authorities stated that they would need a new warrant to conduct any digging if further evidence is identified.
Statements
- Attorney Harold Mesick, who represented Ruben Flores, called the idea of remains on Susan Flores' property "ludicrous" and said previous searches found nothing.
- Podcaster Chris Lambert, who covers the case, said the property has been "overlooked for quite some time."
- Susan Flores declined to comment when reached by phone.