A renewed search at an Arroyo Grande property connected to Paul Flores ended without recovering Kristin Smart’s remains, officials said.
A renewed search linked to Kristin Smart’s disappearance has ended without recovering her remains, underscoring how difficult the case has remained for nearly three decades.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said investigators completed a search at a home in Arroyo Grande associated with Susan Flores. the mother of Paul Flores. who was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022.. In a statement released Saturday. officials said ground-penetrating radar and soil testing at the property did not produce Kristin Smart’s remains.
“We did not recover Kristin Smart,” the sheriff’s office said in its release. Detectives said they will continue evaluating the evidence collected during the search, even though the immediate objective of locating remains was not met.
The effort began earlier this week after law enforcement served a search warrant at the Arroyo Grande property.. Sheriff Ian Parkinson said investigators believed evidence indicated that human remains may once have been at the site. based on what officials described as scientific and other investigative findings.
Speaking before the search wrapped up on Friday. Parkinson said investigators believed “remains were there at one time. or still there. ” describing the belief as grounded in the evidence they were looking at.. He characterized the decision to conduct the search as based on indications that the property warranted further examination.
Smart, a Stockton native and a student at California Polytechnic State University, disappeared in 1996 after attending an off-campus party near the university. The renewed activity in Arroyo Grande revived attention on a case that has stretched far beyond the time when Smart was last seen.
Paul Flores was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He has maintained his innocence and is appealing his conviction, while the investigation has continued to generate new attention through searches and evidence review.
Officials said the sheriff’s office remains committed to finding Smart and bringing her home to her family. They also indicated that no further information would be released at this time, and that no additional updates are planned in connection with this search.
Investigators previously served a search warrant at an Arroyo Grande home in 2020 tied to Smart’s disappearance. The latest search, conducted after the warrant earlier this week, follows that earlier effort and reflects how law enforcement has continued pursuing leads over time.
The Smart family released a statement Friday acknowledging the renewed search and thanking those involved.. The family said it remains hopeful the current search will be successful. and it expressed appreciation for Sheriff Ian Parkinson. Detective Clint Cole. the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department. and the technical experts who supported the execution of the warrant.
Beyond the immediate outcome of the search. officials’ decision to continue evaluating evidence highlights a key feature of long-running missing-person and homicide investigations: even when a search does not recover remains. investigators may still be able to piece together findings that inform future leads or investigative strategy.
For the family. the renewed effort reflects both the persistence of law enforcement in revisiting unresolved aspects of the case and the emotional toll that repeated searches can bring.. The family’s statement pointed to the sustained support they have received. including from the broader community. as they continue seeking answers.
The developments also come as Paul Flores’ appeal process continues.. With legal proceedings ongoing. investigators’ evidence-gathering efforts can remain significant for what prosecutors and defense teams may argue in the courtroom. even as authorities work toward the case’s most urgent goal: locating Kristin Smart.
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