California authorities announced on Saturday that they did not locate the remains of Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old college student who vanished in 1996, after concluding a search of a residence connected to the man convicted of her murder.
Search of Susan Flores' Property
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office confirmed they had finished examining the property owned by Susan Flores in Arroyo Grande, a central coast town situated more than 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. Her son, Paul Flores, was found guilty in 2022 of killing Smart, whose body has never been recovered.
Authorities declined to offer further details on Saturday. Earlier in the week, officials indicated that evidence suggested human remains might be present at the location, prompting scientists with expertise in human decomposition and soil analysis to collect samples from the ground.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family,” the agency stated in a press release.
Background of the Case
Smart disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996. Prosecutors argued that she was killed during an attempted rape, and that the last individual seen with her was Paul Flores, a fellow student. She was officially declared dead in 2002.
Flores was convicted of Smart's murder in October 2022 and received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison the following year.
The decades-long case has drawn significant public attention, partly due to a podcaster who assisted investigators by bringing forward additional witnesses. Chris Lambert, host of the “Your Own Backyard” podcast, initially reported the search of the home.
