SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Authorities plan Thursday to enter the second day of their search of a the home connected to the man of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996, according to law enforcement.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office served the warrant Wednesday in the ongoing investigation into Smart’s disappearance. Her remains were never found and she was declared legally dead in 2002. Paul Flores was convicted in October 2022 and ultimately to 25 years to life in prison.
Law enforcement searched a home in the central coast town of Arroyo Grande occupied by Flores鈥� mother, Susan Flores, according to public records and reporting by a podcast that has closely followed the case.
鈥淭he Sheriff鈥檚 Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family,鈥� the sheriff’s statement said. 鈥淣o further information is available.鈥�
The 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 Wednesday were not successful.
Smart went missing from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996 after returning from an off-campus party. Prosecutors alleged she was killed during an attempted rape and that the last person she was seen with was Flores, a fellow student.
Flores and his father, Ruben Flores, were arrested in 2021.
Prosecutors alleged Smart鈥檚 remains were buried on Ruben Flores鈥� property and later moved. He was acquitted of accessory charges. That property is different from the one searched on Wednesday.
Paul Flores was in March 2023 to prison, where he has been at least twice.
, a judge ruled that Paul Flores must pay just over $350,000 to Smart’s family for costs they incurred after her death.
The family has said it would forgo restitution if Flores would tell them where Kristin鈥檚 body was. Flores鈥� attorney, Harold Mesick, said in 2024 that the defense did not know where her remains are. Flores maintains his innocence.
The county district attorney鈥檚 office said Wednesday it was helping the sheriff’s office with the investigation.
鈥淲hile those responsible for Kristin鈥檚 death 鈥� and those with knowledge of her whereabouts 鈥� could provide answers at any time, we remain firmly committed to using every lawful tool available to locate Kristin鈥檚 remains and to support her family until she is brought home,鈥� District Attorney Dan Dow said in a statement.
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