Kristin Smart: Police search family home of ‘prime suspect’ Paul Flores in 1996 cold case

Police have named a "prime suspect" 25 years after teenager Kristin Smart went missing from her California university campus in 1996.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office announced that it served a search warrant at the home of Ruben Flores, the father of Ms Smart's former classmate Paul Flores.

The Sherrif’s office called Mr Flores a "prime suspect" in the disappearance after previously considering him a longtime person-of-interest.

"The Sheriff’s Office has been authorized to utilize cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar during the course of the search," a spokesman said in a statement.

"This process could potentially take one to two days to complete."

While the sealed search warrant precludes any further information from being disclosed, Ms Smart's family said in a statement they looked forward to more developments.

“We are encouraged by the news of today’s search of Ruben Flores’ property," the Smart family said in a statement, according to ABC News local affiliate KEYT-TV. "We appreciate the vigilance and professionalism of Sheriff Ian Parkinson and his department and our family looks forward to learning more in the hours and days ahead.”