An Arizona backyard burials case has set off an international manhunt after police said two bodies were found behind a home in Litchfield Park and a 27-year-old man was named as the suspect in the deaths of both his parents. Investigators believe Matthew Flores has fled the country as law enforcement agencies widen the search.
Officials said the bodies were discovered on Friday in the backyard of the home. Avondale Police Officer Daniel Benavidez said officers also found a large amount of blood inside the house and signs that someone had tried to clean the scene. He said those findings point to foul play. A mini excavator was brought in to remove the bodies from the yard, and Benavidez said the remains were already in a state of decomposition.
The case began as a missing persons investigation after three people disappeared under what police described as suspicious circumstances. From there, detectives developed the death investigation and focused on Flores as a suspect. The FBI and the US Marshals Service are now involved in the search, underscoring how quickly a local disappearance can become a broader law-enforcement pursuit when investigators believe a suspect may have crossed an international border.
Family and community reaction has been cautious and deeply shaken. People who knew Flores told FOX 10 they were surprised he was considered a suspect, describing him as kind and sweet. The Flores family said in a statement that it is devastated by the recent events and is cooperating fully with law enforcement. The family also asked for privacy while the investigation continues and thanked relatives, neighbors, and others who have expressed concern.
