LAWRENCE, MASS. (WHDH) - A Lawrence man was held without bail on Wednesday after his arraignment in connection with the death of a 37-year-old mother of two.
Cristian Montero, 35, faced a judge in Lawrence District Court. He had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf and is set to remain in custody pending a dangerousness hearing next week.
Lawrence police said Carol Flaz-Burgos was first reported missing Saturday afternoon after she was last seen leaving her apartment on Broadway earlier in the day.
Authorities launched an extensive search for Flaz-Burgos and ultimately found her body in the area of Kenoza Lake in Haverhill Tuesday afternoon.
The Essex County District Attorney’s Office in a statement said police arrested Montero on Tuesday.
Initially charged with witness intimidation and misleading an investigation, District Attorney Paul Tucker said Montero could face an added murder charge based on the results of Flaz-Burgos’ autopsy.
“It is a tough day for the City of Lawrence,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian De Peña in a statement Wednesday morning. “It is not easy for the family or the community, but we thank everyone for working together.”
Police officers, court officers, and heartbroken family members of Flaz-Burgos packed the courtroom in Lawrence as Montero appeared for his arraignment.
Speaking in court, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Fleet laid out additional details about the search for Flaz-Burgos, saying her son told authorities he tried to call her phone several times after she went missing. All calls went to voicemail.
When police arrived at Flaz-Burgos’ apartment, Fleet said they found her purse, keys, and wallet on a dresser.
Flaz-Borgues and Montero lived in the same apartment complex on Broadway.
As their search got underway, Fleet said investigators found surveillance video of Flaz-Burgos walking out of her apartment and going into Montero’s apartment Saturday morning. Fleet said Flaz-Burgos made the sign of the cross as she entered the apartment.
Though Flaz-Burgos was never seen again on surveillance video, Fleet said cameras spotted Montero leaving the apartment complex roughly two hours later. Fleet said he was pulling a beach cart wagon that appeared to be filled with clothes.
7NEWS sources said officials believe Flaz-Burgos’ body was also in the beach cart.
Fleet said Montero spoke with officers on Sunday and Monday. In both conversations, Fleet said Montero told authorities he had left his apartment and driven to an area barbershop. Montero said he sat in his car on nearby Trenton Street but never went inside, according to Fleet.
Fleet said officials investigated Montero’s claims and found he did not park on Trenton Street. Fleet said he also did not enter the barbershop.
“This false information that he provided to the investigators did mislead the investigators in regards to Ms. Burgos’ whereabouts,” Fleet said.
Officials found Flaz-Burgos’ body under leaves in Haverhill.
Speaking outside the courthouse on Wednesday, one family member spoke through tears.
“This is so hard,” she said.
Separately approached outside the courthouse, Montero’s defense attorney said he could not comment on the case.
Lawrence Police Chief Melix Bonilla was in the courtroom and said he was there for support. He said he knows Flaz-Burgos’ family.
“I had to be there,” he said.
Montero is scheduled to be back in court on Sept. 11.
Relatives of Flaz-Burgos are currently planning her funeral.
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