{"id":307685,"date":"2026-05-09T13:24:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/307685\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T13:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:24:20","slug":"grisly-discovery-at-california-home-of-kristin-smart-killers-mother-decades-after-19-year-old-vanished","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/307685\/","title":{"rendered":"Grisly discovery at California home of Kristin Smart killer\u2019s mother decades after 19-year-old vanished"},"content":{"rendered":"

Investigators searching the San Luis Obispo County home belonging to the mother of Kristin Smart\u2019s killer <\/a>found evidence that human remains were once present at the property \u2014 three decades after the 19-year-old college freshman vanished.<\/p>\n

Authorities spent this week combing through the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, mother of convicted killer Paul Flores, using soil testing and ground-penetrating radar to search for signs of human decomposition.<\/p>\n

\"Investigators<\/p>\n

Investigators searching the Arroyo Grande home belonging to the mother of Kristin Smart\u2019s killer found evidence that human remains were once present at the property. AP<\/p>\n

\"Investigators<\/p>\n

Investigators searching the Arroyo Grande home belonging to the mother of Kristin Smart\u2019s killer found evidence that human remains were once present at the property. AP<\/p>\n

Their findings came back positive, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that, based on what we\u2019re looking at, evidence, wise scientific evidence, that a human remains were there at one time,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cSo we can\u2019t call it Kristin, but you know, we think there\u2019s, there\u2019s evidence to support human remains there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Investigators will continue the search and won\u2019t stop until every lead is exhausted, the sheriff added.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur search goes on, and I don\u2019t know how long we\u2019re going to be there,\u201d Parkinson explained during a press conference Friday. \u201cThe warrant that we obtained means the occupants of the residence, once we serve it, have to depart and cannot return to the residence. It\u2019s not unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, sheriff\u2019s investigators and experts in human decomposition arrived at the property.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe remain hopeful that this current search will be successful and look forward to the outcome.\u00a0 Our family greatly appreciates the efforts, dedication, and commitment of Sheriff Ian Parkinson, Detective Clint Cole, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff\u2019s Department, and the technical experts assisting with the execution of this search,\u201d a Smart family spokesperson told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, we continue to feel the tremendous support of the local community and all the people far beyond the Central Coast who provide us with great strength to continue this journey to bring Kristin home,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n

Smart, a California Polytechnic State University student from Stockton, disappeared over Memorial Day weekend in 1996 after attending an off-campus party near the college.<\/p>\n

\"Smart,<\/p>\n

Smart, 19, disappeared over Memorial Day weekend in 1996 after attending an off-campus party near her college. handout<\/p>\n

\"Smart<\/p>\n

Smart was last seen walking back to her dorm with Paul Flores, then 19, after friends decided she was too intoxicated to go home by herself. Andy Johnstone for CA Post<\/p>\n

Flores \u2014 who was convicted of murdering Smart in 2022 \u2014 was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison three years ago. His father, Ruben, was acquitted of helping him.<\/p>\n

She was last seen walking back to her dorm with Paul Flores, then 19, after friends decided she was too intoxicated to go home by herself.<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Luis Obispo Sheriff Ian Parkinson gave an update on the case Friday. Andy Johnstone for CA Post<\/p>\n

The case remained cold for years despite repeated searches. District Attorney Dan Dow vowed Wednesday that officers are still focused on finding her remains.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the jury convicted Paul Flores for the murder of Kristin Smart, the District Attorney\u2019s Office has continued working in coordination with the Sheriff\u2019s Office to fulfill our shared commitment to the Smart family and this community: to bring Kristin home,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Flores was a longtime suspect in the case and the last person known to have seen Smart alive when he walked her home from the booze-fueled off-campus party.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors allege he also attempted to rape her<\/a>, possibly in his dorm room, on the night of May 25, 1996, when both were freshmen at the school.<\/p>\n

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