An international search operation has been launched in pursuit of a man from Arizona, suspected in the tragic deaths of his parents. Authorities discovered their remains buried in the backyard of a residence.
Officials announced on Friday that the bodies were unearthed in the yard of a house in Litchfield Park, Arizona. The suspect, 27-year-old Matthew Flores, has been implicated in both the disappearance and murder of his parents. Investigators believe he has now crossed international borders to evade capture.
The deceased have been confirmed as Flores’ own mother and father, whose tragic end has shocked the local community.
The spotlight turned on Matthew Flores, aged 27, as the prime suspect in this harrowing case, with the bodies of his parents found concealed underground at their Arizona home. Authorities are convinced he has left the United States to avoid arrest.
In a press briefing, Avondale Police Officer Daniel Benavidez detailed that officers encountered a significant amount of blood inside the residence, alongside signs of an attempted cleanup, reinforcing suspicions of foul play.
The three people disappeared under “suspicious circumstances,” which led to a missing persons investigation being opened.
A mini excavator was needed to get the bodies out of the backyard.
Avondale police and crime scene units responded to the Litchfield Park, Arizona home where two bodies were recovered from the backyard. (FOX 10)
The FBI and U.S. Marshals service are involved in the search for Flores, who officials believe has fled the country.
“I can’t tell you how many hours or days, but what I can say is that the bodies are in a state of decomposition,” Benavidez said.
Crime scene tape surrounds the Litchfield Park, Arizona home where investigators used a mini excavator to recover two bodies from the backyard. (FOX 10)
People who knew Flores told FOX 10 they were surprised he is considered a suspect, adding they knew him to be a kind and sweet man.
The Flores family said in a statement that they are “devastated.”
“The Flores Semyonov family is devastated by recent events,” the representative said. “They are fully cooperating with law enforcement. Because this is an ongoing investigation, the family respectfully asks for privacy during this difficult time. Their deepest gratitude is extended to their loved ones, neighbors, and the community at large who have expressed concern.”