Investigators swarm SLO County home in Kristin Smart case. See the photos
By Kaytlyn Leslie ,
Joan Lynch ,
Chloe Shrager and
David Middlecamp
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the Arroyo Grande home of convicted killer Paul Flores’ mother on Wednesday in connection with the Kristin Smart murder case.
Sheriff’s Office investigators and others gathered at the 529 E. Branch St. home of Susan Flores early Wednesday morning under a warrant signed by a Superior Court judge, the agency said in a news release.
The search lasted most of Wednesday, with investigation seeming to include some sort of soil vapor sampling at the property and adjacent lots.
The search continued on Thursday.
Tribune reporters and photojournalists were at the scene early Wednesday and Thursday documenting the activity. See photos from the two days.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Some of the search activity also centered around a home next door, pictured above. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office was serving a search warrant at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
Sheriff Ian Parkinson talks to cold case Det. Clint Cole, middle, as investigators searched the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, mother of Kristin Smart’s convicted killer Paul Flores, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Ian Parkinson, right, and investigator search the Arroyo Grande yard of Susan Flores, mother of Kristin Smart’s convicted killer Paul Flores, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, including the backyard, where a concrete patio was poured after Smart’s disappearance. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office searched the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, mother of Kristin Smart’s convicted killer Paul Flores, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, including the backyard, where a concrete patio was poured after Smart’s disappearance. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office searched the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, mother of Kristin Smart’s convicted killer Paul Flores, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Det. Clint Cole speaks to others outside the house of Susan Flores on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, as a search warrant was served at the home as part of the Kristin Smart investigation. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of Kristin Smart’s murder in 2022. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunewnews.com
Soil vapor testing sits in the front yard of the property next door to Susan Flores’ home on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande as part of the Kristin Smart investigation on May 6, 2026. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
Environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, center, performs soil vapor testing in the front yard of the property next door to Susan Flores’ home on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande as part of the Kristin Smart investigation on May 6, 2026. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
Scientists perform soil vapor testing in the front yard of the property next door to Susan Flores’ home on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande as part of the Kristin Smart investigation on May 6, 2026. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Ian Doughty and Det. Clint Cole patrol a yard west of the Susan Flores house on Branch Street. The Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the home on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in connection with the Kristin Smart murder case. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Boxes are carried into the backyard of the property next door to Susan Flores’ home on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande as part of the Kristin Smart investigation on May 6, 2026. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022. Joan Lynch jlynch@thetribunenews.com
A group including environmental engineer Tim Nelligan, center right, walk from the backyard of the property next door to Susan Flores’ home on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande as part of the Kristin Smart investigation on May 6, 2026. Susan Flores is the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of Smart’s murder in 2022.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office continued to serve a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office continued to serve a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
Scientists do testing on the soil in the front yard of the house next door to Susan Flores’ home in Arroyo Grande on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the second day of a search warrant investigation in the Kristin Smart murder case. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
Scientists do testing on the soil in the front yard of the house next door to Susan Flores’ home in Arroyo Grande on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the second day of a search warrant investigation in the Kristin Smart murder case. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
Scientists do testing on the soil in the front yard of the house next door to Susan Flores’ home in Arroyo Grande on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the second day of a search warrant investigation in the Kristin Smart murder case. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
Scientists do testing on the soil in the front yard of the house next door to Susan Flores’ home in Arroyo Grande on Thursday, May 7, 2026, during the second day of a search warrant investigation in the Kristin Smart murder case. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office continued to serve a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office continued to serve a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Sadie Dittenber@thetribunenews.com sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office continued to serve a search warrant in the Kristin Smart case on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of convicted killer Paul Flores. Sadie Dittenber sdittenber@thetribunenews.com
Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.
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