Investigators in California discovered soil compounds suggesting human remains were once present in a backyard connected to the mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of murdering Kristin Smart in 1996. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office collected soil samples and conducted ground radar scans at the Arroyo Grande property owned by Susan Flores.

Early testing revealed decomposition compounds consistent with human remains, though no actual body has been found at the site. Kristin Smart, a 19-year-old college freshman, disappeared after a party near California Polytechnic State University in 1996 and was declared legally dead in 2002. Her family has long sought closure through the search for her body.

The case gained renewed attention through true crime podcasts like "Your Own Backyard" before Paul Flores was convicted in 2022 of first-degree murder. He's now serving 25 years to life. Authorities also charged his mother's home with helping conceal evidence, though Susan Flores was found not guilty. Investigators remain committed to searching until they find Smart or exhaust all possibilities.