The Lawrence man, alleged to have killed his neighbor and dumped her body in Haverhill, was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Lawrence District Court.
Thirty-five-year-old Cristian Montero pled not guilty and was ordered held without bail after being formally charged with the murder of Carol Flaz-Burgos, age 37, of Lawrence.
Flaz-Burgos was first reported missing Saturday, Aug. 31, and found dead Sept. 3 at a wooded area near Kenoza Lake in Haverhill. Prosecutors allege Montero disposed of the woman’s body after killing her in the apartment building that both the victim and the defendant lived at 590 Broadway in Lawrence.
“I am grateful to the detectives in this case for their diligent work in investigating the death of Ms. Flaz-Burgos and for identifying the person responsible for taking her life,” said Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker in a statement after the court hearing. “She was a beloved mother, daughter, co-worker and member of the community, and I join them in mourning her loss.”
Montero, represented by attorney Chris Norris, was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 16 for a probable cause hearing. Assistant District Attorney Jessica Fleet handled the arraignment for the district attorney’s office. and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Strasnick will prosecute the murder case.
The search for Flaz-Burgos and investigation involved the Lawrence Police Department, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Tucker’s office, State Police K-9 and Air Wing units, and the Haverhill and Methuen Police Departments.