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

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SAN LUIS OBISPO — Investigators at the home of the mother of Kristin Smart’s killer have detected the presence of human remains but have not found a body, authorities said Friday.Authorities have been at the Arroyo Grande home of Susan Flores in San Luis Obispo County this week, testing the soil 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.

“We believe that, based on what we’re looking at, evidence, wise scientific evidence, that human remains were there at one time,” he said.“So we can’t call it Kristin, but you know, we think 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.

Investigators believe Smart’s body may have been moved multiple times after she was killed.“Our search goes on, and I don’t know how long we’re going to be there,” Parkinson said at a news conference updating the public on this week’s search efforts.If anything is ultimately found, authorities will return to dig, something that would require another warrant, meaning “you are going to see some delays,” he said.As authorities continued their work Friday, work trucks lined the curb as reporters and podcasters talked on camera outside Susan Flores’ colorful house.In the neighbor side yard driveway, soil scientists loaded a truck, having gathered more soil vapors for the day.Near the sheriff’s headquarters along Highway 1, a short distance from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a pair of billboards read “Kristin Smart Help bring her home.”Earlier this week, sheriff’s investigators along with experts in human decomposition descended on the home of the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing Smart after she disappeared ...