Raised in Baltimore where she attended Old Mill High School, the Puerto Rico-born Flores earned two college degrees, one in business and the other in law at the University of Baltimore and at Towson.
And, as much as her academic and brief show business career impressed, Flores’ lasting impression locally has always been how well she represented the Washington Redskins, serving in 2007 as the team’s cheerleading ambassador which took her all over the District and in Maryland at various community events.
Since her tragic death in December 2010, many still hold on to the memories she left behind, including television news reporter Carolina Sarassa, who’s authored a new book about Flores called, “Dancing on Her Grave: The Murder of a Las Vegas Showgirl.”
“Debbie Flores was a vivacious, college-educated Washington Redskins cheerleader who seemingly had it all when she headed for Las Vegas. Leaving behind a successful career as an attorney in high finance, she had aspirations of stardom as a showgirl,” Sarassa writes in the 304-page tome that’s scheduled for release on April 7.
Sarassa, a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist who’s currently an anchor and correspondent for MundoFox National Network News in Los Angeles, said Flores’ rise and her murder occurred all too quick.
“In short order, Debbie found herself preparing for her solo debut at the legendary Luxor,” Sarassa says. “But one day, after morning rehearsals, no one saw her alive again.”
Sarassa had just started her new job as a reporter at a Spanish-language television station in Las Vegas when she received a Facebook message from a viewer imploring her to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a friend.
Like Sarassa, the viewer was originally from Colombia and a bond quickly formed between them.
She said an ambiguous text message Flores left behind for her mother led authorities to her charismatic boyfriend, Jason “Blu” Griffith, an internationally celebrated Cirque de Soleil performer.
When the details of Debbie’s murder emerged, it was revealed that Blu was hiding a terrible secret, one that involved a rental van, bags of cement, two plastic tubs, and a handsaw.
Flores’ dreams of a dazzling career had ended in grisly, nightmarish fashion.
“Carolina certainly related to it on a personal level, being a young Latina herself,” her publicist, Elliott Chang said in an email.
“As a journalist, she has been trained to leave her work at the office and not bring it home. However, this case struck her very differently,” Chang said.
The defense team for Jason “Blu” Griffith claimed Flores was a stalker and that he killed her in self-defense.
However, as she covered the case as a reporter Sarassa questioned that contention and during her subsequent research for her book, she drew a different conclusion altogether, as she was privy to the full breadth of evidence that was not entirely admissible in court.
“Carolina’s goal in writing the book was simply to provide an account of what really happened. In so doing, she would hopefully provide some insight to the question of how something this horrific could happen to a young woman with so much promise,” Chang said.
At an emotional private memorial service on Jan. 13, 2011, her parents, sister Celeste Flores Narvaez and others paid tribute to Flores and recalled her as passionate about life and dancing. They praised her success at landing a job on the famed Las Vegas Strip.
A day later, a public memorial was held inside the Luxor on the Fantasy stage where Flores performed.
“How could a girl with such passion and promise come to an end so violent and unexpected? I hope this book will provide some insight,” Sarassa said.
To purchase the book, visit www. amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
And, as much as her academic and brief show business career impressed, Flores’ lasting impression locally has always been how well she represented the Washington Redskins, serving in 2007 as the team’s cheerleading ambassador which took her all over the District and in Maryland at various community events.
Since her tragic death in December 2010, many still hold on to the memories she left behind, including television news reporter Carolina Sarassa, who’s authored a new book about Flores called, “Dancing on Her Grave: The Murder of a Las Vegas Showgirl.”
“Debbie Flores was a vivacious, college-educated Washington Redskins cheerleader who seemingly had it all when she headed for Las Vegas. Leaving behind a successful career as an attorney in high finance, she had aspirations of stardom as a showgirl,” Sarassa writes in the 304-page tome that’s scheduled for release on April 7.
Sarassa, a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist who’s currently an anchor and correspondent for MundoFox National Network News in Los Angeles, said Flores’ rise and her murder occurred all too quick.
“In short order, Debbie found herself preparing for her solo debut at the legendary Luxor,” Sarassa says. “But one day, after morning rehearsals, no one saw her alive again.”
Sarassa had just started her new job as a reporter at a Spanish-language television station in Las Vegas when she received a Facebook message from a viewer imploring her to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a friend.
Like Sarassa, the viewer was originally from Colombia and a bond quickly formed between them.
She said an ambiguous text message Flores left behind for her mother led authorities to her charismatic boyfriend, Jason “Blu” Griffith, an internationally celebrated Cirque de Soleil performer.
When the details of Debbie’s murder emerged, it was revealed that Blu was hiding a terrible secret, one that involved a rental van, bags of cement, two plastic tubs, and a handsaw.
Flores’ dreams of a dazzling career had ended in grisly, nightmarish fashion.
“Carolina certainly related to it on a personal level, being a young Latina herself,” her publicist, Elliott Chang said in an email.
“As a journalist, she has been trained to leave her work at the office and not bring it home. However, this case struck her very differently,” Chang said.
The defense team for Jason “Blu” Griffith claimed Flores was a stalker and that he killed her in self-defense.
However, as she covered the case as a reporter Sarassa questioned that contention and during her subsequent research for her book, she drew a different conclusion altogether, as she was privy to the full breadth of evidence that was not entirely admissible in court.
“Carolina’s goal in writing the book was simply to provide an account of what really happened. In so doing, she would hopefully provide some insight to the question of how something this horrific could happen to a young woman with so much promise,” Chang said.
At an emotional private memorial service on Jan. 13, 2011, her parents, sister Celeste Flores Narvaez and others paid tribute to Flores and recalled her as passionate about life and dancing. They praised her success at landing a job on the famed Las Vegas Strip.
A day later, a public memorial was held inside the Luxor on the Fantasy stage where Flores performed.
“How could a girl with such passion and promise come to an end so violent and unexpected? I hope this book will provide some insight,” Sarassa said.
To purchase the book, visit www. amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer