A Lawrence man, Christian Montero, 35, has been charged with the murder of his neighbor after he misled authorities on a goose chase, authorities say.
“Officers from many different agencies including the Lawrence Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Haverhill Police Department, and Methuen Police Department have spent numerous hours trying to confirm or dispel the defendant’s alibi. This false information that he provided to the investigators did mislead the investigators,” said Essex County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Fleet, according to Boston 25 News.
On Wednesday, Montero will be arraigned on a murder charge for the death of Carol Flaz-Burgos. The victim was found dead on Sept. 3 by a specialized K-9 unit in the Kenoza Lake conservation area of Haverhill after the 37-year-old mother of two went missing days before.
Flaz-Burgos was declared missing on Aug. 31 after the police received a 911 call from a concerned individual who had called Flaz-Burgos several times and received her voicemail instead. Upon authorities' arrival at the victim’s residence, her wallet, keys, and purse were found on her dresser, but Flaz-Burgos was nowhere to be found.
Initially, Montero was charged with witness intimidation and misleading an investigation after the defendant told investigators in two separate interviews he didn’t know the whereabouts of Flaz-Burgos and was not anywhere near the victim when she disappeared.
"At this time, we have a suspect in custody on a charge of witness intimidation and misleading an investigation. When the medical examiner’s office completes their autopsy, which may occur in the next 24 to 48 hours, we expect that charge will be upgraded to murder," said Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, according to NBC Boston.
Montero had told investigators he had driven to a barbershop on Trenton Street; instead, phone data revealed the defendant was in Havervill at that time. Also, authorities retrieved video footage showing Flaz-Burgos going to Montero’s apartment in the same building where she lived with her children and making a sign of the cross before entering the defendant’s apartment. However, the victim was never seen leaving the apartment.
Later, using phone data records, investigators tracked Flaz-Burgos’s phone as it left the apartment building at the same time video footage showed Montero leaving the complex dragging a wagon filled with clothes. Both the defendant and the victim’s phone records moved in sync toward Havervill, where Flaz-Burgos was later found.
The case is still ongoing, and the motive for the killing remains unclear.
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