Missing Lawrence woman found dead in Haverhill, suspect in custody, officials say

LAWRENCE, Mass. — The body of a missing Lawrence mother was recovered Tuesday afternoon in Haverhill, days after she disappeared from her apartment building.

At a late-night news conference Tuesday, police also revealed the arrest of a man who lives in the same building and said they expect him to face murder charges.

Police found the body of Carol Flaz, 37, in the Kenoza Lake conservation area of Haverhill. Flaz was discovered by a specially trained K9 three days after the 37-year-old mom of two vanished.

“This was essentially an around the clock effort to locate Carol Flaz,” Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker told reporters.

Tucker identified the suspect as Cristian Monterro, 35. Authorities say he lives in the same building as Flaz but could not elaborate on how or if the two knew each other.

Julissa Nunez, a Lawrence Community Advocate, told Boston 25 News that Flaz was last seen knocking on a neighbor’s door around 7:00 Saturday morning at her apartment building at 590 Broadway. Nunez says there are security cameras throughout the building.

Investigators would not discuss what information led them to area near Kenoza Lake on Tuesday, but say they questioned Monterro the same day.

“It’s not a murder charge, yet,” Tucker stressed in the news conference. “He’s in custody on a charge of witness intimidation and a charge of misleading an investigation. We expect over the next couple of days, when the Medical Examiner completes their autopsy, that those charges will be upgraded to murder.”

Tucker said more details on the case and Monterro’s arrest would be shared Wednesday morning when Monterro faces court arraignment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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