Trending Now - New Developments in Kristin Smart's 30-year Disappearance Case

WHO:

ABC News - Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old college student who went missing in 1996.

ABC News - Paul Flores, convicted in 2022 of killing Kristin Smart.

ABC News - Susan Flores, mother of Paul Flores, whose home is being searched.

ABC News - Tim Nelligan, an expert in soil vapor testing involved in the search.

ABC News - Chris Lambert, podcaster of “Your Own Backyard” who reported on the case.

ABC News - Ruben Flores, father of Paul Flores, who was arrested in 2021 and acquitted of accessory charges.

WHAT:

Los Angeles Times - Authorities have detected the presence of human remains at the home of Susan Flores, but have not found a body. Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated, "We believe that, based on what we’re looking at, evidence, wise scientific evidence, that human remains were there at one time."

Los Angeles Times - The search at Susan Flores' home is expected to continue, with investigators stating, "Our search goes on, and I don’t know how long we’re going to be there."

ABC News - Soil scientists have been using ground-penetrating radar and sampling soil gases to look for signs of human decomposition at the property.

TMZ - Investigators have found evidence of human remains on a property linked to Paul Flores, the convicted killer of Kristin Smart.

CNN - Authorities served a new search warrant on the home of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, in connection to Kristin Smart's case.

ABC News - Tim Nelligan stated that his team has developed a methodology to assess soil vapor in relation to human cadaver decomposition.

CNN - Sheriff Ian Parkinson indicated that the search is expected to take "two or three days."

ABC News - Authorities plan to hold a news conference to update the public on the search, scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday.

CNN - Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated that the search is expected to be "extremely thorough" and could take "two or three days."

ABC News - Tim Nelligan confirmed he was gathering samples from the yards of both Susan Flores and a neighbor.

ABC News - Authorities served a search warrant on the home of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, on a Wednesday.

CNN - San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated that the search is expected to be "extremely thorough" and could take "two or three days."

ABC News - Tim Nelligan confirmed he was gathering samples from the yards of both Susan Flores and a neighbor.

ABC News - Authorities are conducting a search at the home of Susan Flores related to Kristin Smart's case.

ABC News - A news conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. to update the public on the search.

ABC News - Soil vapor sampling is being conducted to assess human cadaver decomposition.

ABC News - Paul Flores was sentenced in March 2023 and has been physically attacked at least twice in prison.

ABC News - A judge ruled in 2024 that Paul Flores must pay over $350,000 to Smart's family for costs incurred after her death.

WHERE:

ABC News - The search is taking place at a home in Arroyo Grande, California, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

ABC News - Kristin Smart went missing from California Polytechnic State University.

WHEN:

ABC News - Kristin Smart was declared legally dead in 2002.

ABC News - Paul Flores was convicted in 2022.

ABC News - Paul Flores was sentenced in March 2023.

ABC News - A judge ruled in 2024 regarding restitution to Smart's family.

WHY:

CNN - Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated, "We believe that Kristin, at one time, was on Paul Flores’ father’s property. We know she’s been moved, so where she moved to … we’re hunting that down."

CNN - Sheriff Parkinson reiterated that the case is ongoing, stating, "I said when Paul Flores got convicted that the case wasn’t over, and it’s never going to be over until we return Kristin to her family."

CNN - Sheriff Parkinson emphasized that the case is not over until Kristin Smart is returned to her family, stating, "I said when Paul Flores got convicted that the case wasn’t over, and it’s never going to be over until we return Kristin to her family."

ABC News - Authorities have not disclosed what prompted the current search at Susan Flores' home.

HOW:

Los Angeles Times - The technology used for soil vapor sampling has evolved, with samples being analyzed at a local lab.

ABC News - Soil vapor sampling involves collecting underground gas samples to detect volatile organic compounds associated with human decomposition, according to Tim Nelligan.

ABC News - Soil vapor sampling involves collecting underground gas samples to detect volatile organic compounds associated with human decomposition.

(UPDATED May 9, 2026 01:28 UTC)

Authorities have detected the presence of human remains at the home of Susan Flores, although a body has not yet been found. Sheriff Ian Parkinson indicated that evidence suggests human remains were present at one time, and the search at the property is expected to continue indefinitely. Investigators are employing advanced technology, including ground-penetrating radar and soil vapor sampling, to look for signs of human decomposition, with samples being analyzed at a local lab.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 23:19 UTC)

Investigators have discovered evidence of human remains on a property associated with Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing Kristin Smart. Sheriff Ian Parkinson explained that they believe Kristin was once on Paul Flores' father's property, but they know she has since been moved, and they are actively searching for her current location. The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover more details surrounding this case.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 21:20 UTC)

Authorities have executed a new search warrant at the home of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, as part of the ongoing investigation into Kristin Smart's case. Tim Nelligan announced that his team has developed a new methodology for assessing soil vapor, which involves collecting underground gas samples to identify volatile organic compounds linked to human decomposition. Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated that the search is expected to last "two or three days," emphasizing that the case remains active and will continue until Kristin is returned to her family.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 17:21 UTC)

Authorities are set to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. on Friday to provide updates on the ongoing search for Kristin Smart, with Sheriff Ian Parkinson stating that the effort will be "extremely thorough" and may take "two or three days." Tim Nelligan has confirmed he is collecting soil vapor samples from the yards of both Susan Flores and a neighbor, which involves gathering underground gas samples to detect volatile organic compounds linked to human decomposition. Sheriff Parkinson reiterated the importance of the case, emphasizing that it will not be considered over until Kristin is returned to her family.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 11:20 UTC)

Authorities have executed a search warrant at the home of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff stating that the search will be "extremely thorough" and could last "two or three days." Tim Nelligan confirmed he is gathering samples from the yards of both Susan Flores and a neighbor, utilizing soil vapor sampling to detect gases linked to human decomposition. Sheriff Ian Parkinson reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing, emphasizing that the case will not be considered closed until Kristin Smart is returned to her family.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 05:45 UTC)

Authorities are currently searching the home of Susan Flores in Arroyo Grande, California, as part of the ongoing investigation into the case of Kristin Smart, a college student who went missing in 1996. Soil vapor sampling is being conducted to assess potential signs of human cadaver decomposition, and a news conference is set for 9 a.m. to provide updates on the search. Paul Flores, who was convicted in 2022 of killing Kristin Smart, has faced physical attacks in prison and was ordered by a judge in 2024 to pay over $350,000 to Smart's family for costs incurred after her death.