LAWRENCE — Cristian Montero, Carol Flaz-Burgos’ neighbor at 590 Broadway, is being charged with her murder.
Montero, 35, was arrested and charged last week with misleading a police investigation after Flaz-Burgos, a mother of two, went missing Saturday, Aug. 31.
She was found dead four days later on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in a wooded area near Kenoza Lake reservoir in Haverhill.
Montero now faces arraignment on the murder charge Wednesday in Lawrence District Court, according to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker.
Tucker previously said investigators were awaiting autopsy results from the medical examiner before charging Montero with murder.
Flaz-Burgos lived in unit 401 and Montero was in 405 at 590 Broadway.
Investigators said before entering Montero’s apartment Saturday morning, Flaz-Burgos was seen on surveillance video texting and making the sign of the cross. She was not seen leaving the apartment.
Later, after viewing 15 hours of surveillance tape, Montero was seen leaving the apartment pulling a “wagon” or “beach cart” that appeared “filled with clothes,” according to an investigator’s report.
Detectives searching the woman’s cell phone data found movement at the same time Montero left this apartment with the wagon and were led to the nearby city of Haverhill, a prosecutor said last week.
Last Wednesday, Montero was held without bail after his arraignment on the charge of misleading a police investigation.
A manner of death and motive for the killing have not yet been revealed.
Also, any connection between Flaz-Burgos and Montero, other than being neighbors, is unclear.
Flaz-Burgos lived in the 590 Broadway apartment with her children, ages 9 and 11, authorities said.
Her children contacted grandparents when Flaz-Burgos did not return home on Saturday.
She was employed as a home health aide and well liked by her clients.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill.