Updated May 10, 2026 — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has completed a recent search of a property in Arroyo Grande linked to the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart, but officials said no human remains were recovered.
Investigators concluded their work at a home on East Branch Street associated with Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores. Law enforcement had executed a search warrant earlier in the week and used tools including ground-penetrating radar and soil testing during the probe. The sheriff’s office said all collected evidence will continue to be analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson told reporters before the search wrapped up that investigators had scientific evidence suggesting remains may have been at the property at some point. Despite those leads, the search did not produce remains, the agency said in a Saturday statement.
Kristin Smart, then a student at California Polytechnic State University and a native of Stockton, vanished after attending an off-campus party in 1996. In 2022, Paul Flores was convicted of her murder and given a sentence of 25 years to life. He has repeatedly maintained his innocence and is appealing the conviction.
Authorities previously served a warrant at an Arroyo Grande residence in 2020 as part of the same investigation. During the current operation, technical experts assisted law enforcement with forensic and geophysical methods.
The Smart family released a statement acknowledging the renewed search, thanking investigators, detectives and technical teams for their efforts, and expressing hope that the work would bring new answers. They also noted appreciation for support from the local community and people beyond the Central Coast.
The sheriff’s office reiterated its commitment to bringing Smart home but said no further information will be released at this time and no additional public updates are planned. Detectives continue to evaluate the evidence obtained during the search as they pursue leads in the case.