A man previously detained for allegedly deceiving police during an investigation into the death of a missing Lawrence mother is now charged with murder, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Christian Montero, 35, of Lawrence, is scheduled to appear in Lawrence District Court on Wednesday on an upgraded charge of murder in connection with the death of 37-year-old Carol Flaz-Burgos, whose body was discovered last week near Kenoza Lake in Haverhill’s Winnikenni conservation area, according to the Essex District Attorney’s Office.
The DA’s office claims it filed the murder case against Montero based on the results of a medical examiner’s autopsy. Montero was ordered jailed without bail last week after pleading not guilty to accusations of witness intimidation and deceiving investigators.
Flaz-Burgos’ body was discovered on September 3 by a specially trained K9, three days after the mother of two disappeared from her apartment complex. Authorities claimed Montero and Flaz-Burgos resided in the same building but did not say how or if they knew each other.
An inquiry into Flaz-Burgos’ whereabouts was begun on Aug. 31 after a 911 caller reported phoning her phone several times, each of which went to voicemail, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Fleet stated during Montero’s initial arraignment.
When police got to Flaz-Burgos’ apartment, they discovered her keys, pocketbook, and wallet on a dresser, but no sign of her, according to Fleet.
Fleet informed the court that Flaz-Burgos was last seen strolling just a few doors down to Montero’s apartment. Before entering, Flaz-Burgos was seen texting and “making the sign of the cross” on surveillance video, according to Fleet.
Flaz-Burgos was never seen again on surveillance video, but Montero was seen approximately two hours later, hauling a beach wagon that appeared to be full of apparel, according to Fleet. At approximately the same time, cellular data showed Flaz-Burgos’ phone moving away from the Broadway apartment complex and toward Haverhill, according to Fleet.
In interactions with authorities on Sunday and Monday, Fleet claimed that Montero deceived investigators by providing a false alibi. Cellular data eventually revealed that his phone was in Haverhill, not on Trenton Street in Lawrence, where he claimed to be.
“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,” Fleet said the judge. “This false information that he provided to the investigators did mislead the investigators.”
Flaz-Burgos was discovered dead late Tuesday, and Montero was brought into custody.
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