In May 2026, authorities in the United States continued to investigate the 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart, a college student from California. Human remains have never been found, but recent soil tests conducted at a property associated with Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted in 2022 for Smart’s murder, indicate evidence of decomposing human remains. The ongoing investigation at this Arroyo Grande residence stemmed from new leads prompting a search warrant signed by a Superior Court judge. While investigators are cautious to avoid prematurely linking the evidence to Smart, they assert that the scientific analysis supports the presence of human remains at some point. The investigation came after a long history of searches and trials surrounding Smart's mysterious disappearance during an off-campus party in May 1996. Prosecutors alleged that Paul Flores was the last person to see her alive and accused him of killing her during an attempted sexual assault. Paul Flores has remained in custody since his conviction, and the search for Kristin's body continues, as the sheriff's office emphasizes its commitment to bringing closure to her family. The authorities have expressed hope that renewed investigation efforts could yield tangible results, as previous searches of the property, which had not been thoroughly conducted, may now provide new insights and direction. As the investigation unfolds, Smart's family has publicly acknowledged the community's support and remains hopeful for the findings from this extensive search. However, Sheriff Ian Parkinson has stated that the search will proceed methodically, and further excavation might be necessary depending on the results of the ongoing examinations, which include inspections of ground disturbances and other forensic analyses.