Renewed Kristin Smart search focuses on grounds at San Luis Obispo County home
A home in the Arroyo Grande area of San Luis Obispo County is being searched in connection with the disappearance of Kristin Smart.
Law enforcement officers were seen at the East Branch Street home Wednesday morning, and the search continued through the week. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a search warrant was served at the home in connection with the Smart case.
At a Friday press conference, Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Smart's remains had not been found, but investigators are gaining confidence that they're looking in the right place.
"I think it's safe to say we have not recovered Kristin yet, but our search goes on," Parkinson said.
"We believe that, based on what we've looking at – evidence-wise, scientific evidence – that [human] remains were there at one time, or still there," Parkinson said later in the press conference. "So, we can't call it Kristin, but we think there's evidence to support human remains."
Search crews have been using ground-penetrating radar and soil testing at the home, which is associated with the mother of Paul Flores, the man convicted of Smart's murder in 2022.
Smart, a Stockton native and Cal Poly student, disappeared in 1996.
"We are not leaving that house until we are sure that we have checked everything," Parkinson said.
Investigators previously served a search warrant an Arroyo Grande home in 2020 in connection with Smart's disappearance.
The Smart family released a statement Friday acknowledging the renewed search and thanking investigators and technical experts involved in the case.
"We remain hopeful that this current search will be successful and look forward to the outcome. Our family greatly appreciates the efforts, dedication, and commitment of Sheriff Ian Parkinson, Detective Clint Cole, the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Department, and the technical experts assisting with the execution of this search. Finally, we continue to feel the tremendous support of the local community and all the people far beyond the Central Coast who provide us with great strength to continue this journey to bring Kristin home."
Paul Flores has maintained his innocence and has been appealing his sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Sheriff Parkinson said he doesn't know when the current search will conclude.