Highlights
- Two bodies found Aug. 6 in a Litchfield Park backyard are believed to be homeowners Hector Flores, 69, and Larissa Flores, 63.
- Their adult son Matthew Flores, 27, is named as the prime suspect and is believed to have fled the United States.
- The U.S. Marshals Service and FBI are assisting Avondale police in the manhunt; no arrest has been made.
- Investigators found a large amount of blood inside the residence and evidence of an attempt to conceal it.
Two bodies discovered buried in the backyard of a Litchfield Park home on Aug. 6 are believed to be those of the homeowners, Hector and Larissa Flores, and their adult son Matthew Flores, 27, is now the prime suspect in a double homicide investigation, Avondale police said. The U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI are assisting in the search for Matthew Flores, who is believed to have fled the United States.
The investigation began as a missing persons case after a husband, wife, and their adult son were reported missing. Detectives said they suspected foul play from the start. The remains were found buried near a pool in the backyard; neighbors said construction on the pool wrapped up last month.
Investigators have not officially confirmed the identities of the two victims. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner lists autopsies as pending for two unidentified individuals with the last name Flores. The ages listed, 69 and 63, match those of Hector and Larissa Flores, the homeowners. The date of death is listed as Aug. 6, the same day the bodies were discovered.
Public records show Hector Flores was a realtor and Larissa Flores was a nurse practitioner who specialized in psychiatric care. Matthew Flores also lived at the home.
Avondale Police Officer Daniel Benavidez said the bodies showed signs of decomposition but declined to specify how long they were buried. Inside the residence, investigators found what Benavidez described as "a large amount of blood" and evidence of an attempt to conceal it. Three vehicles have been processed for evidence, though police have not disclosed how they connect to the case.
Police have not disclosed where in the world Matthew Flores may be. The case has been corroborated by ABC15 and ABC News, among others.
Who is Matthew Flores and where is he now?
Matthew Flores, 27, is the adult son of Hector and Larissa Flores and lived with them at the Litchfield Park home. Avondale police named him the prime suspect in the double homicide investigation and say he is believed to have fled the United States. The U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI are assisting in the search; police have not disclosed which country or region he may have traveled to.
The investigation is ongoing. Police have not disclosed when the victims were last seen alive or which family member requested the welfare check that led to the discovery of the remains.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 08/08/2026 00:45
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 08/08/2026 00:45. Every claim traces to a source.
