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Published Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010 | 2:54 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010 | 4:43 p.m.
A body was found at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in the Kingman Wash Thursday morning.
The female body was found by two hikers in a desert area in wash, said Metro Police spokesman Jay Rivera. The hikers, a man and his girlfriend, called police at 11:38 a.m. and told police that the body appeared to have been burned, Rivera said.
He said he could not speculate on the possibility of the body being that of missing Luxor dancer Debbie Flores-Narvaez.
“We can’t rule it out,” Rivera said. “Until the coroner does a positive identification, we have no idea who the individual is."
Metro’s homicide unit was at the scene and police said jurisdictional issues will need to be worked out between Metro and Mojave County police, Rivera said.
Kevin Turner, a park ranger, said the body was on the Arizona side of the recreation area. It was found a couple of miles from the interchange of U.S. 93 and the Kingman Wash, he said.
Metro Police, rangers at Lake Mead and the Mojave County Police in Arizona are investigating the finding, Turner said. Rivera said Thursday afternoon that Metro Police’s homicide detectives were going to the recreation area to investigate.
Could it be the missing dancer?
I hope it is not the woman who was recently reported missing. I hate that it has to be anybody to be honest. It's so very sad. I can't imagine the emotional torture of family and friends of someone who is missing.
I thought the dancer too. Snowman is right. This it very sad and tragic
Maybe someone in forensics can answer this...Why would a perp. burn a body? It's true that it may destroy some evidence, but dna still exists and there is still a "body".
This is it. RIP. Sad end to a sad story.
girlygirl, I believe the fire has to reach a certain temperature to fully cremate a body. Your average fool doesn't know this though.
metro new what was going to happen with this case...and we knew too... not a good Christmas story...
Her car was located in Northeast Vegas and Lake Mead Blvd goes directly to Lake Mead....Blu might be singing the blues quicker than he thought.
I am guessing that it will be the dancer, but pray that it is not. I feel sorry for the victim and her family, whomever it turns out to be. Murder is the most hideous crime of all, no matter who the person is.
My heart goes out to the family. What a sad, tragic ending. Why burn the body? Killing her wasn't enough? What kind of sick animal does this?
riesen2b, I couldn't agree with you more.
Burning the corpse, although it will not prevent identification, could destroy fibers, hair, bits of fingernail, blood, etc. that the murderer may leave on the body.
To get the corpse across the river, the murderer(s) may have crossed the new bridge. Cameras?
For those like me who are unfamilier with the area, here's a link to a map: http://www.nps.gov/lake/planyourvisit/up... . Looks like the corpse was found along Road 70 (Kingman Wash Road).
Maybe she isn't burned just deomp ,a fire would have brought attention to the dumping ground , the skin turns blackish after awhile. Sheesh, another dead woman , If you don't have any common sense you are at a bigger risk of a creep taking your life . Smarten up , stay alert and never let yourself be vulnerable , thats just the way it is out there in the real world .
RIP Debbie
This story is an onion with many layers.
I agree with JustinaMarie. Most likely a decomp, not burnt. They look the same at first glance or to the untrained.
I predict this case will be solved very shortly. The offender should be very nervous...
Not a good advertisement for the Vegas area, and a tragic situation for the family during the holidays, of course, CSI, the Defenders, Vegas, Casino, etc. we like crime stories...or else who would go to the mob museum and watch Nancy Grace.
If it is the dancer, that brings in the FBI guess, across state-lines and all.
I have a bad feeling about this. Whether it is the dancer or someone else - some family will now be grieving for their daughter, sister, mom and friend on Christmas morning.
What is this world coming to?
I have followed this story since this girl came up missing and I live in Wyoming. I would like to give condolences to the family if it is her and condolences to whomsoever has to go without this person for the rest of their lives if it is not her. God, this is a mad world and I think more attention should have been paid to the text message she sent her mother from the beginning of this case. No she didn't just up and leave. No woman leaves her makeup behind in her car with no plates. Come on don't tell me the signs of murder were not clear from the day she was reported missing whether her ex did it or his goonies. I hope he gets the death penalty whomsoever did it. THis was somebodys baby girl left lifeless in a park. No matter what she did or didn't do right she had a family and a mother who loved her dearly. I'm sorry your Christmas will be so much sadder than it should be. God Bless! It's a very very sad day for this family once the identification is made and I have shed tears for you also though I do not know you and I pray you remain strong and know that justice will be served upon whoever did this, I'm sure of it. I hope they are haunted by her spirit everyday they breathe.
The Las Vegas Rap radio stations should take some responsibility for this. Just listen to their music. "B's" and "Ho's" violence against women, rape, thuggery, dog-fighting. Those who run these stations and concerts should be charged as accessories.
The most irresponsible of course is the radio "cluster" runs the main hate talk station in town, and the despicable "misogynist rap station" in town in my opinion.
We need the fairness doctrine to give equal time to victims of the violence.
This type of homicide is usually caused by someone the victim knew, Ex-BF or lover. Eventually the one responsible will be facing a very painful and miserable fate, Eternity in a very empty hole deep inside a place called Death Row!
I heard on our local news the body was that of the dancer, but I can't find it anywhere online. My friend in CHicago heard it on one of the national news stations the same. I can't see them knowing this so soon. My guess is everyone is presuming it is Debbie.
At the risk of sounding callous, Det_Munch, I would GUESS that a positive identification could have been made very early on, based on the serial numbers on breast implants. This is still Las Vegas, after all.
To "MRED" the music you listen to has nothing to do with your actions. You were either a screwed up person before you listened to the "rap" or you had some other underlying issues. I listen to "rap" occasionally and I have a degree, have never been in jail, have a great job and am active in my community. It's like saying watching the Sopranos makes people want to kill and bury the dead in their backyard! That is such a sterotype to even say that "The Las Vegas Rap radio stations should take some responsibility for this." What responsibility? Who blamed the "rock stations" when kids went and shot up their schools? This is a case of possibly murder by domestic violence which unfortunately is rising in this country. And I highly doubt all the offenders listen to "rap music". Get the facts straight. We all know what you're really trying to say...
The Las Vegas Rap radio stations should take some responsibility for this. Just listen to their music. "B's" and "Ho's" violence against women, rape, thuggery, dog-fighting. Those who run these stations and concerts should be charged as accessories.
The most irresponsible of course is the radio "cluster" runs the main hate talk station in town, and the despicable "misogynist rap station" in town in my opinion.
We need the fairness doctrine to give equal time to victims of the violence.
I agree totally with your comment about the influence of violence in rap music and the culture it has created. I totally and violently disagree with your statement that we need the Fairness Doctrine back. Talk radio has been proven, as in Air America, that even though you have a different opinion than other talkers (Rush, Beck, Savage et al) if it is boring and bad radio then people will not listen to it. I do not want to be forced to listen to an opposing viewpoint if I do not want to. If that would happen it would mean the end of over the airwaves radio. It is on its last legs anyway right now.
The best revenge is not to listen. No listeners mean no ratings nd that wil force programmers to make changes. Also boycotting advertisers who buy airtime. I personally refuse to shop and eat at some locations that sponser music or programming that I do not agree with.
My feeling is I am a grown up, I do not need or want the federal government in my life more than necessary, and reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine would be more of the obama big brother reaching its slimy tentacles more into my life and wallet.
I just saw Jason "Blu" Griffith's picture.
Wow! What a catch!
Hey ladies-he's single!
If you are looking for a down home type of guy who loves quiet, romantic beatdowns and taking his favorite honey with him during late night pharmocology deliveries, then have I the "man" for you! He is a giving guy, and will love you to death if you give him the chance (or the opportunity)!
Although I have not researched the issue it brings up interesting jurisdictional questions and challenges for the prosecutors. I surmise that as in other states if a murder charge was brought in Nevada, in the case in question, prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the murder occurred in Nevada. I am wondering that if the remains are severely charred, whether that would prevent establishing time of death, and make it more difficult to prove the murder occurred in Nevada. Although I would think that whether this body is that of Debbie, the Luxor dancer, could be determined by DNA, severe charring and destruction may preclude identification by other means, dental or the breast implants that another commenter mentioned. It is clear that one of the two states has jurisdiction, either Arizona or Nevada, since the Federal Murder Statute does not appear to be implicated, although, by transporting the body over state lines to avoid prosecution a separate federal criminal offense may have been committed.
Correction: The Federal Murder Statute would be implicated if it could be shown that the murder occurred in Lake Mead National Recreation Area since that would be the necessary federal element to establish federal jurisdiction. Which complicates matters even more.
Notice how the dance company and the casino didn't offer a reward. Maybe they know something.
The rappers are crappers.
iamwinkler
I believe dental records could still be used in ID'ing a body that has been burned more so then implants since those would melt. There is ALWAYS something that can be used for identification/DNA purposes, including just a bone. Look how many people were ID'd after 9/11 with just tiny bone fragments. It may take some time but it can be done.
One more thing - Metro is being very quiet on this. As well they should because you KNOW they have already found evidence in the car. The plates were removed after the car was abandoned. All the forensics people need is just one tiny fingerprint. I wonder how long it will be before boyfriend becomes a suspect. A few days? A few weeks? New Year's Eve?
I hate to sound callous but this is like a real life CSI/Bones episode.
:-(
Det Munch, agree on implants, I have looked up and read an article on forensic dentistry, they (the teeth) may or may not be able to be used depending on how badly burned they are, if severely burned they can be destroyed or so brittle they break. Even then, depending on condition, they may be able to be used to aid in identification by taking photos of them. Thus getting some information ---a dental pattern particular to the individual, etc. More likely, as you point out, DNA can be obtained even from a small sample, e.g. a bone fragment which could be used to identify the victim. I'm interested in how the forensics, especially in this case, if this indeed turns out to be Debbie Flores, helps establish a time line as to when death occurred. Such evidence could help determine that the death (murder) occurred in Nevada and thus establish jurisdiction in Nevada. Interesting to see what happens here.