Overview
- San Luis Obispo County deputies executed a Superior Court-approved warrant Wednesday at the East Branch Street property owned by Susan Flores in Arroyo Grande.
- The Sheriff’s Office said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to locate Kristin Smart’s remains and declined to release findings or further details.
- Investigators brought ground-penetrating radar and soil-science specialists to the site, and the search was expected to continue into Thursday, according to local reporting.
- Focus on the yard increased after independent researchers in 2023 reported soil vapor readings of volatile compounds they interpret as consistent with human decomposition near the property.
- Paul Flores was convicted of Smart’s 1996 murder in 2022 and sentenced to 25 years to life in 2023, and the district attorney said agencies remain committed to bringing her home.