SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities served a search warrant Wednesday at a home connected to the man convicted of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996, according to law enforcement and media reports.
Her remains were never found and she was declared legally dead in 2002. Paul Flores was convicted in October 2022 and ultimately sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the search in the central coast town of Arroyo Grande is related to the ongoing investigation into Smart’s disappearance. Flores’ mother, Susan Flores, lives at the home, according to public records and reporting by a podcast that has closely followed the case.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,” the sheriff’s statement said. “No further information is available.”
The “Your Own Backyard” podcast, which helped investigators crack the case by bringing forward additional witnesses, first reported the search and said the home belongs to Flores’ mother. Attempts to reach Susan Flores for comment were not immediately successful. The search was ongoing Wednesday afternoon.
