ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities are set to provide an update on a grounds search related to the case of Kristin Smart, the 19-year-old college student who went missing in 1996. Smart's body has never been found, and her disappearance has remained a point of public interest for decades.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has organized a news conference scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday to discuss the developments. Recently, investigators executed a search warrant on the property of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted in 2022 of killing Smart. While officials have not disclosed what led to this latest search, specialists in human decomposition and soil analysis have collected samples from the ground surrounding the residence.
Tim Nelligan, an expert in soil vapor testing, reported that he and his team gathered samples from both the yards of the Flores family and a neighboring property. Nelligan emphasized that their methodology focuses on assessing soil vapor in relation to human cadaver decomposition but refrained from commenting specifically on the ongoing investigation.
Kristin Smart was last seen in May 1996 after attending an off-campus party near California Polytechnic State University. Prosecutors alleged that she was murdered during an attempted rape, with Paul Flores being the last person seen with her. Smart was declared legally dead in 2002, sparking ongoing public interest, especially following a podcast called “Your Own Backyard” hosted by Chris Lambert, which helped shed light on additional witness testimonies and contributed to renewed attention on the case.
Lambert first revealed the recent search of the Flores family home, located in Arroyo Grande, approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. The podcast has played a significant role in reigniting the investigation into Smart's disappearance, highlighting key aspects that had previously been overlooked.
Authorities previously arrested both Paul and his father, Ruben Flores, in 2021. While Paul was convicted of Smart's murder, Ruben was acquitted of accessory charges regarding the case. Investigators have alleged that Smart's remains were initially buried on Ruben's property and later moved. Notably, the current investigation is centered on a different property owned by Susan Flores.
Paul Flores received a prison sentence in March 2023 and has reportedly faced physical attacks while incarcerated. In a subsequent ruling in 2024, a judge mandated that he pay over $350,000 in restitution to Smart's family for the expenses they incurred after her death. The family has expressed they would waive restitution if Flores could reveal the location of Smart's remains. However, Flores' attorney stated that his client has no knowledge of where the remains might be, maintaining Flores' innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
As the investigation unfolds, many remain hopeful that renewed searches may lead to the discovery of Kristin Smart’s body, providing closure to her family and friends who have sought answers for more than two decades.
