The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has concluded a recent search for the remains of Kristin Smart at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of the man convicted of Smart’s murder. While authorities announced Saturday that they did not recover Smart, the operation was prompted by new soil testing that had returned signs of human remains.
The search is the latest chapter in a case that has captivated the public since the college freshman vanished from the California Polytechnic State University’s San Luis Obispo campus over Memorial Day weekend in 1996. Although a decadeslong investigation led to the 2022 conviction of Paul Flores for first-degree murder—resulting in a sentence of 25 years to life—the location of Smart’s remains remains unknown.
“Until we have Kristin, everything is still wide-open,” San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson told reporters.
Investigators utilized advanced soil science and ground-penetrating radar, a technology that employs sound waves to map structures beneath the ground, to scour the property. Tim Nelligan, an expert in soil vapor testing, was on the premises gathering samples from the yard of Susan Flores and a neighbor’s yard. Nelligan stated that his team has developed a “methodology to assess soil vapor” and its relationship to “human cadaver decomposition.”
Sheriff Parkinson explained that soil samples are analyzed for human DNA at a local lab, specifically looking for compounds in the soil related to a decomposing human body. He described the process as methodical and step-by-step, noting that data is analyzed nightly and interpreted to see if it matches specific thresholds.
The search at the Arroyo Grande home was complicated by the fact that the yard is a “very small area” that is “quite crowded with stuff.” Investigators also combed through a packed garage and examined the deck. Sheriff Parkinson noted that because the remains may have been moved multiple times, authorities may return to previously searched locations if they are believed to be a “safe place” for the remains to have been relocated.
The search warrant used to enter the property remains sealed, meaning the underlying evidence is not yet public. Parkinson declined to disclose the specific new information that enabled the latest warrant, though he noted it was based on “investigative leads and evidence” as well as “information that was derived from what we have to deem as a witness.”
For the family of Kristin Smart, the lack of remains represents a continuing barrier to closure. In a statement on their website, the family wrote: “For thirty years, we have lived with a pain no family should have to endure, as heartache, frustration and setbacks have woven themselves into our everyday lives.”
The case has seen several legal developments over the last few years. In February 2020, detectives served warrants at the homes of Paul Flores and his parents and sister. In March 2021, a warrant was served at the home of Paul’s father, Ruben Flores, where investigators used ground-penetrating radar and hand tools to discover additional evidence. Prosecutors alleged that Ruben helped his son hide the body under a deck before relocating it. While Paul Flores was convicted of murder, Ruben Flores was acquitted of the charges against him.
Susan Flores has long been a person of interest in the case, though she has never faced charges. Sheriff Parkinson stated that the department currently has “no lawful reason to detain her.”
Looking forward, the Sheriff’s Office maintains It’s “fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family.” Evidence recovered during the most recent search will be sent for evaluation to aid the ongoing investigation. Depending on these results, authorities may search other locations or re-examine previous sites using new techniques.
