Police: Body of ‘Fantasy’ dancer found, ex-boyfriend booked on murder charge

By Kyle B. Hansen

Published Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 | 10:56 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 | 9:17 p.m.

The body of Deborah Flores-Narvaez was found in downtown Las Vegas and the dancer’s ex-boyfriend has been arrested and charged with murder, Metro Police said Saturday.

Police Lt. Lew Roberts said Metro received a tip Friday morning that led to the discovery of the body downtown, but he refused to identify the exact location or condition of the body.

Roberts said the discovery gave police enough probable cause to arrest Jason Griffith, 32, late Friday on the Strip. Griffith was arrested without incident, Roberts said, but police wouldn’t say the exact location of the arrest.

Police have released little information about the case, citing the ongoing investigation.

“It’s a very complicated case. This was a very high-profile case,” Roberts said. “We made an arrest on a suspect, and in the interest of providing a good prosecution we can’t go any deeper.”

The exact cause and manner of Flores-Narvaez’s death will be released by the Clark County Coroners Office after an autopsy, which is scheduled for Monday, Roberts said.

Jail records show that Griffith was booked Saturday on a charge of murder and is being held without bail.

Roberts said additional charges may be filed against Griffith. He also said it was possible there could be other arrests in the case.

Flores-Narvaez, a part-time dancer in Luxor's "Fantasy" show and a two-year resident of Las Vegas, was last seen the evening of Dec. 12 leaving her apartment near Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue.

Police previously said she apparently stopped briefly at Griffith’s residence after leaving her apartment.

Flores-Narvaez's roommate filed a missing persons report Dec. 14 when she failed to show up for a late-night dance practice and then a show.

Police found Flores-Narvaez’s car Dec. 16 in northeast Las Vegas.

In late December, police said Griffith was cooperating with the investigation but was not a suspect at the time.

An earlier arrest report said that he had allegedly been abusive in his relationship with Flores-Narvaez.

According to that report, Griffith was arrested in late October and charged with coercion after he allegedly stole Flores-Narvaez's iPhone, pushed her down on the ground, kicked her and pulled her hair.

The report also said Flores-Narvaez was pregnant with Griffith’s child, but police have not confirmed if she was pregnant.

Her mother, Elise Narvaez, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month that she received a text message from her daughter Dec. 1 saying, "In case there is ever an emergency with me, contact Blu Griffith in Vegas. My ex-boyfriend. Not my best friend."

Her mother told the newspaper that she asked her daughter what it meant and she responded, "Nevermind, mommy. Just keep it for your records."

Flores-Narvaez, originally from Puerto Rico, previously worked for the Washington Redskin Cheerleader Ambassadors in 2007 and 2008. According to her MySpace biography, she earned a law degree and has a bachelor's degree in international business but decided to pursue her passion for dancing.

Her sister, Celeste Flores-Narvaez, spent a couple weeks in Las Vegas helping to search for Flores-Narvaez, but recently returned to Atlanta.