Authorities have concluded a search of a property linked to the man convicted in the disappearance of Kristin Smart, the 19-year-old college student who vanished in 1996, without uncovering her remains, officials announced on Saturday.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office completed its investigation at Susan Flores’ residence in Arroyo Grande, located over 240 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles.
In 2022, Paul Flores, Susan’s son, was found guilty of murdering Smart, although her body has yet to be discovered.
Officials have chosen not to disclose further details at this time.
Earlier this week, authorities revealed that evidence pointed to the potential presence of human remains at the site. Specialists in human decomposition and soil analysis took samples from the property for examination.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home to her family,” stated the agency in an official release.
Smart went missing from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996. Prosecutors alleged that she was killed during an attempted rape and that the last person she was seen with was Paul Flores, a fellow student.
She was declared legally dead in 2002.
Flores was convicted in October 2022 of Smartâs murder and sentenced the following year to 25 years to life.
The decades-old case has captivated the public, fuelled in part by a podcaster who helped investigators by bringing forward additional witnesses.
Chris Lambert of the Your Own Backyard podcast first reported the search of the home.
