Authorities search home linked to 1996 killing of college student Kristin Smart

"The San Luis Obispo county sheriff's office served the warrant on Wednesday in the continuing 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 sentenced to 25 years to life in prison."

"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."

"The Your Own Backyard podcast, which helped investigators crack the case by bringing forward additional witnesses, first reported the search and said the home belonged to Flores's mother. The Sheriff's office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family."

Authorities conducted a search warrant on Wednesday at a home in Arroyo Grande, California, owned by Susan Flores, mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted in October 2022 of killing 19-year-old college student Kristin Smart in 1996. Smart disappeared from California Polytechnic State University in May 1996 after returning from an off-campus party. Her remains have never been found, though she was declared legally dead in 2002. Flores was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in March 2023. The search represents ongoing investigative efforts to locate Smart's remains and bring closure to her family. A podcast investigating the case helped generate leads that contributed to Flores's conviction.

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