Nearly three decades after college student Kristin Smart vanished from a California campus, law enforcement returned to a central coast residence Wednesday in a fresh push to locate her remains. Authorities served a warrant at a home in Arroyo Grande owned by Susan Flores, mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing the 19-year-old in 1996.
The search marked the latest development in a case that has long haunted investigators and Smart's family. Her body has never been found despite Paul Flores's conviction in October 2022, which resulted in a 25-years-to-life sentence. Smart was officially declared dead in 2002, six years after she disappeared following an off-campus party while attending California Polytechnic State University.
Authorities planned to continue their work at the property on Thursday as the investigation pressed forward. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office offered little detail beyond confirming its commitment to the case. "The Sheriff's office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family," the office said in a statement.
The Your Own Backyard podcast, which had previously helped bring forward witnesses that proved crucial to the prosecution, first reported the search. The podcast's investigative work was instrumental in building the case against Flores, whose arrest in 2021 came after years of scrutiny.
Prosecutors charged that Flores killed Smart during an attempted rape and that he was the last person to see her alive. His father, Ruben Flores, was also arrested in connection with the case. Authorities alleged Smart's remains were buried on Ruben Flores's property before being relocated, though he was ultimately acquitted of accessory charges. The property searched this week belonged to Paul's mother, not his father.
The case has produced some resolution but not closure for Smart's family. A judge ordered Paul Flores to pay more than $350,000 to the family in 2024 to cover costs incurred following her death. However, the family has indicated it would waive that restitution entirely if Flores revealed where her body could be found. His attorney, Harold Mesick, stated in 2024 that the defense lacks knowledge of her remains' location. Flores continues to maintain his innocence.
Paul Flores has experienced violent incidents while incarcerated, having been physically attacked at least twice since his imprisonment in March 2023. Meanwhile, the county's district attorney emphasized the investigation's ongoing nature. "While those responsible for Kristin's death and those with knowledge of her whereabouts could provide answers at any time, we remain firmly committed to using every lawful tool available to locate Kristin's remains and to support her family until she is brought home," said Dan Dow, the district attorney.
Author James Rodriguez: "Three decades and no body remains the most painful element of this case, and these searches suggest authorities haven't given up on finding her despite a conviction secured years ago."
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