Kristin Smart Case: Human remains discovered outside home of convicted killer’s mother

OAN Staff Jenna Lee and Brooke Mallory
6:17 PM – Friday, May 8, 2026

Nearly three decades after 19-year-old Kristin Smart vanished from the California Polytechnic State University campus, investigators have now discovered human remains near the San Luis Obispo County home of her killer’s mother.

The college freshman originally disappeared during Memorial Day weekend in 1996 while returning from an off-campus party. She was last seen in the company of fellow student Paul Flores, who walked her toward her dormitory and was long suspected of murdering her during an attempted rape.

Although Smart’s body was never recovered at the time of the initial investigation, the case saw a major breakthrough in 2022 when Flores was finally convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

While his father, Ruben Flores, was acquitted of charges related to helping hide the body, the recent discovery of remains represents a significant development in the decades-long effort to bring full closure to the Smart family.

“We believe that based on what we’re looking at evidence-wise … that human remains were there at one time or still there,” said San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson at a news conference. “We can’t call it Kristin, but you know, we think there’s evidence to support human remains,” he added.

According to reports from the Los Angeles Times, investigators conducted a forensic search at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, the mother of Kristin’s convicted killer. During the operation, authorities utilized specialized equipment, including ground-penetrating radar and soil testing, to identify chemical signatures or physical anomalies consistent with human decomposition.

Sheriff Ian Parkinson confirmed that these advanced search techniques yielded positive results, suggesting that human remains had previously been buried on the property, which significantly bolstered the evidence in the decades-long investigation.

“Our search goes on, and I don’t know how long we’re going to be there. The warrant that we obtained means the occupants of the residence, once we serve it, have to depart and cannot return to the residence. It’s not unusual,” explained Parkinson.

The recent search at the residence of Flores was fueled by a combination of forensic evidence and newly developed investigative leads, which together established the legal probable cause necessary to secure a fresh warrant nearly thirty years after Smart’s disappearance.

Although the case remained cold for decades despite numerous previous search efforts, local authorities have maintained a steadfast commitment to the recovery of Smart’s remains. District Attorney Dan Dow reaffirmed this resolve, emphasizing that law enforcement officers are deeply determined to bring the finality of a recovery to the Smart family after so much time has passed.

“Since the jury convicted Paul Flores for the murder of Kristin Smart, the District Attorney’s Office has continued working in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office to fulfill our shared commitment to the Smart family and this community: to bring Kristin home,” said Dow.

Both the Smart family and lead investigators are maintaining a sense of cautious optimism that these recent developments will finally allow them to recover her remains.

Meanwhile, this hopeful yet guarded outlook reflects the emotional weight of a search that has spanned nearly thirty years, as authorities work to provide the family with the definitive closure they have long sought.

“For thirty years, we have lived with a pain no family should have to endure, as heartache, frustration, and setbacks have woven themselves into our everyday lives,” said her family in their website statement.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts  

Sponsored Content Below

Share this post!