ARROYO GRANDE — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office concluded its latest search connected to the disappearance of Kristin Smart at a property in Arroyo Grande on May 6, 2026, without recovering her remains. Investigators completed their work at the East Branch Street home of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, after executing a search warrant.

Search crews used ground-penetrating radar and soil testing during the operation, including soil analysis designed to detect chemical compounds associated with human decomposition. The search marked one of the first times investigators have excavated parts of the backyard at the property. Detectives obtained the warrant based on investigative leads and evidence, and identified new underground anomalies during the search. Forensic testing at the home has yielded positive results consistent with human remains.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said investigators believed evidence suggested human remains may have once been at the property. "We believe that, based on what we've been looking at – evidence-wise, scientific evidence – that remains were there at one time, or still there," Parkinson said. He added, "We plan to be there until we can walk away, either finding Kristin or all the evidence we can find and moving to the next step. We're not leaving that house until we've exhausted everything."

Detectives will continue evaluating evidence collected during the search to assist with the ongoing investigation. The sheriff's office said it remains committed to finding Smart and bringing her home to her family. Officials said no further information will be released at this time and no additional updates are planned.

The Smart family issued a statement on the search. "We remain hopeful that this current search will be successful and look forward to the outcome. Our family greatly appreciates the efforts, dedication, and commitment of Sheriff Ian Parkinson, Detective Clint Cole, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department, and the technical experts assisting with the execution of this search. Finally, 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," the family said.

Smart disappeared in 1996 after attending an off-campus party near California Polytechnic State University, where she was a student and a native of Stockton. Paul Flores was convicted of Smart's murder in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He has maintained his innocence and is appealing the conviction. His father, Ruben Flores, was charged with helping conceal Smart's body and was acquitted at trial. Investigators previously served a search warrant at an Arroyo Grande home in 2020 in connection with the disappearance.