California investigators have completed their search of Paul Flores’ home, the convicted murderer linked to the long-unsolved case of Kristin Smart, who disappeared decades ago. While officials announced they found no remains, they plan to further analyze the evidence collected during their search.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office stated on Saturday that detectives wrapped up their investigation at a residence on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande, tied to the 1996 disappearance of Smart.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office confirmed, “We did not recover Kristin Smart. Detectives will evaluate all evidence we have retrieved to assist in the ongoing investigation. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to locating Christine and reuniting her with her family.”
No further updates are expected at this moment.
This comes after officials revealed earlier in the week that evidence suggested remains found might relate to Susan Flores, Paul’s mother. Sheriff Ian Parkinson mentioned at a news briefing that soil tests indicated compounds typically associated with decomposing human bodies.
Parkinson remarked, “We believe that human remains were once there or maybe still are,” adding some details about the soil tests but refraining from going deeper into specifics.
This latest search is part of a nearly 30-year investigation centering on a case that has garnered significant attention in California. Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old student at Cal Poly, vanished in May 1996 after attending an off-campus party. Prosecutors later claimed that Paul Flores had killed her during a failed rape attempt in her dorm room.
Paul, now 49, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, yet Smart’s body has never been located. San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow has previously indicated that his office is dedicated to finding Smart’s remains, ensuring they will pursue every legal avenue to bring closure to her family.
Despite the lack of confirmed remains from the recent search, authorities insist on their commitment to finding Kristin and bringing her home.
