Surprise Kristin Smart search targets home of killer’s mother. What to know

Sheriff’s investigators served a search warrant Wednesday at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, mother of convicted killer Paul Flores, in the ongoing search for Kristin Smart’s remains.

The search comes three years after scientists using soil vapor analysis discovered signs of human decomposition in the area.

The Cal Poly student vanished nearly 30 years ago on Memorial Day weekend of 1996, and her body has never been recovered.

Read the full story here: Live Updates: Kristin Smart search underway at SLO County home of killer’s mother

Here’s a complete timeline of the Kristin Smart case: Cal Poly student Kristin Smart went missing in 1996. Here’s what’s happened since

Here are key takeaways:

• The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a property in the 500 block of East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande under a warrant signed by a Superior Court judge. The address is the home of Susan Flores, who has never been charged in connection with the Smart case.
• The search follows a 2023 soil vapor analysis by scientists, including environmental engineer Tim Nelligan and chemist Steve Hoyt, who said they found volatile organic compounds consistent with a “human decomposition event” near the property’s yard. Nelligan was on site on Wednesday to do new soil vapor testing at the home and a neighbor’s property.
• Paul Flores was convicted in 2022 of killing Smart, a first-year Cal Poly student who disappeared in 1996. His final appeal was denied in January.
• Chris Lambert, creator of the “Your Own Backyard” podcast, said the property had been “overlooked” in previous searches and that it appeared ground scanning equipment was brought to the scene Wednesday.
• Smart family spokesman John Segale said the family was made aware of the search Wednesday morning. Denise Smart, Kristin’s mother, has previously said: “There’s no finality for us” until her daughter’s remains are returned home.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 3:48 PM.