Police have searched the home of a convicted killer's mother in connection with the murder of a 19-year-old college student who vanished three decades ago. Paul Flores is currently serving 25 years in prison for the murder of Kristin Smart, who disappeared in 1996. Despite his conviction, Smart's body has never been recovered.
Search in Arroyo Grande
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office confirmed that on Wednesday, they executed a search warrant at a property in Arroyo Grande where Flores' mother, Susan, now resides. A statement from the sheriff's office read: 'The Sheriff's Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family. No further information is available.' The search was first reported by the 'Your Own Backyard' podcast, which has provided investigators with additional witnesses in hopes of locating Smart's remains.
Background of the Case
Kristin Smart went missing from California Polytechnic State University in 1996 and was declared legally dead in 2002. Prosecutors alleged that she was killed during an attempted rape, and that Flores, a fellow student, was the last person seen with her. Both Flores and his father, Ruben, were arrested in 2021. Prosecutors claimed that Smart's body was initially buried on Ruben's property before being moved. Ruben was acquitted of accessory charges. The property searched on Wednesday is different from the one Ruben lived in at the time of Smart's disappearance.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the search was prompted by the discovery of volatile organic compounds in the soil of a neighbor's backyard three years ago, which could indicate decomposing human remains nearby. Podcast host Chris Lambert, who was outside the home during the search, told The Tribune: 'The Flores family owned this house at the time that Kristin went missing, and it was never very thoroughly searched. It’s definitely overlooked. Ruben’s property was the one searched in 2021, which led to the trials. I would assume what they’re doing here is the same thing they did there, which is scanning the ground to look for anomalies underneath, where soil may have been disturbed, dug up, or replaced.'
Lambert also noted that the clothing Smart wore on the night of her disappearance, as well as the clothing Flores wore, were never recovered, suggesting these items could potentially be found at the property.
Ongoing Efforts
Investigators have long maintained that Flores was the last person to see Smart alive. He told police he walked her home from a party before parting ways. Smart was reported missing two days later by a friend, but a search did not commence for several days due to miscommunication between authorities. During the investigation, four search dogs trained to detect human remains led police to Flores' dorm room, but no evidence was found there.
In 2024, a judge ordered Paul Flores to pay over $350,000 to Smart's family for costs incurred after her death. The family has stated they would forgo restitution if Flores would reveal the location of Kristin's body. Flores' attorney, Harold Mesick, said in 2024 that the defense does not know where her remains are, and Flores maintains his innocence.
The county district attorney's office is assisting the sheriff's office with the investigation. District Attorney Dan Dow stated: '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.'
