Deputies found evidence in search for Kristin Smart’s remains

Evidence Discovered in Latest Kristin Smart Search

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputies recovered "several items considered evidentiary in nature" during their latest search for the remains of murder victim Kristin Smart, according to a May 19 press release from the Sheriff's Office. No human remains were found during the operation at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores.

The search, which began May 6, utilized advanced forensic techniques including ground-penetrating radar and soil vapor science at the property on the 500 block of East Branch Street. Soil scientists identified an area in the side yard that showed "results consistent with the possible presence of human remains," according to multiple news reports.

Excavation Follows Soil Testing Results

On May 8, investigators secured an additional search warrant to excavate the identified area. Teams removed large concrete pavers and carefully sifted through soil for evidence related to Smart's 1996 disappearance. The excavation continued through May 9.

Sheriff Ian Parkinson had told reporters during a May 8 press conference that soil testing had produced "positive results consistent with human decomposition," though officials could not confirm whether those results were linked to Smart, CNN reported.

"We believe, based on what we're looking at, scientific evidence, we believe that human remains were there at one time," Parkinson told KSBY, though he cautioned they couldn't confirm specifics.

Background on the Decades-Long Case

Smart, a 19-year-old Cal Poly freshman, disappeared over Memorial Day weekend in 1996 after attending an off-campus party. Paul Flores, a fellow student who was the last person seen with her, was convicted of first-degree murder in October 2022-has-been-convicted-by-jury-of-the) and sentenced to 25 years to life in March 2023.

Prosecutors alleged that Flores killed Smart during an attempted rape. His father, Ruben Flores, was charged as an accessory but was acquitted by a separate jury. Paul Flores' conviction was upheld by the California Court of Appeal in October 2025, and the California Supreme Court denied his petition for review in January 2026.

What This Means for the Investigation

Susan Flores' home has been searched multiple times during the 30-year investigation, but Sheriff Parkinson noted that advances in soil science and ground-penetrating radar technology have enabled more sophisticated analysis. The property owner is considered a person of interest in the case.

"The Sheriff's Office remains fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family," the agency stated in its press release. The recovered evidence is currently being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.

This latest search underscores law enforcement's continued commitment to the case nearly three decades after Smart's disappearance. While her killer has been convicted and sentenced, the search for her remains continues, offering hope to her family and the Central Coast community that has followed this case for years.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact San Luis Obispo County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-549-STOP (7867).