The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on Wednesday at a residence in Arroyo Grande belonging to Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, the man convicted of killing 19‑year‑old college student Kristin Smart. The search, part of an ongoing investigation into Smart’s disappearance, follows years of effort by law‑enforcement and true‑crime podcast investigators to uncover the location of her remains, which have never been recovered.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,” the sheriff’s statement read. The statement added that no further information was available at the time of the search.
Smart disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996. Prosecutors alleged she was the victim of an attempted rape and that the last person seen with her was fellow student Paul Flores. After a lengthy cold‑case investigation, Flores was convicted in October 2022 and sentenced to 25 years‑to‑life in March 2023. He has been the target of multiple prison assaults since his conviction.
In 2024, a judge ordered Flores to pay more than $350,000 in restitution to Smart’s family for expenses incurred after her death. The family has said it would forgo the restitution if Flores disclosed the location of Kristin’s remains. Flores’ attorney Harold Mesick told reporters that the defense does not know where her remains are and that his client maintains his innocence.
District Attorney Dan Dow issued a statement affirming the county’s commitment to locating Smart’s remains: “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.”
The search reportedly includes forensic teams taking soil samples around the property, a technique highlighted by the “Your Own Backyard” podcast, which has closely followed the case and helped bring forward additional witnesses. Attempts to contact Susan Flores for comment have not been immediately successful.
Authorities say the investigation remains active, with the goal of finally providing closure to Smart’s family after more than two decades of uncertainty.