The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that it had not recovered Kristin Smart at the home of the mother of her killer.
Authorities confirmed they had finished searching the home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores, in the 500 block of East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande, California.
‘We did not recover Kristin Smart,’ the sheriff’s office said.
The statement added: ‘The Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family.’
Detectives will now evaluate ‘any evidence’ recovered to continue the investigation.
Flores’ Arroyo Grande property was searched on Wednesday using ground-penetrating radar technology and specialized soil testing.
Smart disappeared more than 30 years ago while attending California Polytechnic State University and was legally declared dead in 2002.
Paul Flores, her former classmate, was convicted of her murder in 2022. Smart’s remains have never been found.
The human remains were found at the home of Susan Flores (pictured), the mother of Smart’s killer Paul Flores. Susan has never faced criminal charges related to Smart’s death
Kristin Smart, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo student who disappeared in 1996 and was declared dead in 2002
In Saturday’s update, law enforcement said they would not provide any further information.
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Friday that Flores remained a person of interest in the decades-old case.
Parkinson said prosecutors could pursue charges if investigators uncovered enough evidence to build a case.
‘She can still be prosecuted as an accessory if we can make that link,’ Parkinson said.
He said that had happened with Flores’ ex-husband, Ruben Flores.
Ruben was charged with helping conceal Smart’s body but was acquitted of being an accessory after the fact.
Authorities explained that they would file as many search warrants as needed.
‘We’re prepared to go as long as it takes until we either find Kristin, find evidence and are satisfied that everything has been searched,’ Parkinson said.
This is a breaking news story. More to come.
