Kristin Smart's body not found, search ends at home tied to killer despite signs of remains

Key Points:

• Investigators concluded a search at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores, mother of convicted killer Paul Flores, without recovering Kristin Smart’s body, despite soil testing earlier indicating the presence of human remains.
• The search involved sheriff’s deputies, soil scientists, and ground radar experts who gathered extensive data for further analysis, as investigators believe Smart’s body may have been moved multiple times since her 1996 disappearance.
• Paul Flores was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life for Smart’s murder, with the case receiving renewed attention after the 2019 podcast "Your Own Backyard" and advanced soil testing techniques detecting volatile organic compounds linked to decomposing human remains in the area.
• Previous searches of properties owned by Paul Flores’ family, including his father Ruben Flores’ home, using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs, did not uncover remains; Ruben Flores was acquitted of charges related to aiding in the disposal of Smart’s body.
• Authorities remain committed to finding Kristin Smart and bringing closure to her family, continuing to evaluate evidence collected during the recent search.