Kristin Smart search: Remains detected and search will continue, sheriff says

"Authorities have been at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores in San Luis Obispo County this week, scanning the ground for any signs of human decomposition. Their results have been "positive," meaning remains have been detected, but that's it so far, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Friday."

"Parkinson said, "We believe that, based on what we're looking at, evidence, wise scientific evidence, that a human remains were there at one time," he said. "So we can't call it Kristin but you know, we think there's, there's evidence to support human remains there.""

"But, Parkinson added, investigators won't leave until they are sure they've done all they can. "Our search goes on, and I don't know how long we're going to be there," he said at a press conference updating the public on this week's search efforts. "The warrant that we obtained ... means the occupants of the residence, once we serve it, have to depart and cannot return to the residence. It's not unusual.""

"If anything is ultimately found, authorities will return to dig, which would require another warrant, which means "you are going to see some delays," he said. Parkinson said he does not know when search with soil testing and ground penetrating radar will be done. "We don't know if it's going to conclude today, as I mentioned, it's a methodical step each each time we get something, we go in another direction. We get something, we pursue that," he said."

Investigators searched the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores for signs of human decomposition using ground scanning methods. Results were positive for human remains, but no body has been located so far. The sheriff said scientific evidence indicates human remains were present at one time, though they cannot yet identify them as Kristin Smart. Investigators will remain until they complete all possible steps under the obtained warrant. The warrant requires occupants to leave and prevents return during the search. If additional evidence is found, authorities would return to dig under another warrant, which could cause delays. The search process uses soil testing and ground penetrating radar and proceeds methodically as new findings guide further directions.

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