Investigators find evidence ‘consistent with human remains’ at home linked to Kristin Smart’s killer

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson announced Friday that investigators uncovered evidence 'consistent with human remains' during a search of Susan Flores’ Arroyo Grande property on East Branch Street. The soil tests revealed compounds linked to decomposing human bodies, though authorities have not recovered any remains and cannot confirm the evidence pertains to Kristin Smart, the 19-year-old Polytechnic State University student who vanished in 1996. The latest search follows a new warrant obtained due to recent investigative leads and evidence meeting legal standards nearly 30 years after Smart’s disappearance. Authorities previously searched the property twice without success but are now using advanced ground-penetrating radar, which has improved significantly since the 1990s. Parkinson noted that new anomalies have been identified during the search, though the investigation remains ongoing. Smart disappeared on May 25, 1996, after attending an off-campus party near Cal Poly’s campus. Her case gained renewed attention through the podcast *Your Own Backyard*, which uncovered new witnesses and inconsistencies in the Flores family’s accounts. Paul Flores, Smart’s last known companion, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2022, though prosecutors alleged Ruben Flores helped conceal her body beneath the deck of the Arroyo Grande home before it was moved. Parkinson stated that investigators believe Smart’s remains may have been relocated multiple times over the years. The search at the property will continue through the weekend, with authorities cautioning against premature conclusions. 'It’s not what we believe,' Parkinson said. 'It’s what we can prove.' The case remains active as investigators work to determine the fate of Smart’s remains.