FBI Top Ten Most Wanted: Alexis Flores

"Alexis Flores (born July 18, 1975) is a Honduran wanted for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of five-year-old Iriana DeJesus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2000. He is also wanted for child rape. The FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list now includes Flores as the 487th fugitive. Although he has given birth dates ranging from 1975 to 1982, Flores was actually born in Honduras in 1975. Because of an injury he sustained during Hurricane Mitch in Honduras in 1998, Flores has a noticeable surgical scar on his neck. A homeless drifter by the name of "Carlos" (or "Carlo") received housing, clothing, and employment as a handyman from Philadelphian Jorge Contreras in the summer of 2000.

Iriana DeJesus, 5, was discovered dead in the basement of an abandoned apartment complex on August 3, five days after it was reported that she was missing. She had been strangled, sexually assaulted, and wrapped in a garbage bag. Iriana's blood-stained T-shirt with a distinct political logo was discovered close to her body. When the police questioned Contreras about the shirt, he knew it was one of the outfits he had lent to "Carlos," who had been missing since the girl was reported missing. After that, "Carlos" was put on the wanted list for questioning, and America's Most Wanted featured a sketch of him. In 2002, Flores was detained for shoplifting in Arizona. Police were called to Flores' home in response to a noise complaint two years later. In Arizona, possessing a forgery device is a felony, so Flores was detained after providing police with false identification documents.

Flores was friendly and welcoming when he was detained, and he cooperated with the police when they questioned him. Officers entered his apartment to conduct a more thorough investigation and found pornography all over the place. Flores informed immigration authorities that his previous residence was Schaumburg, Illinois, before moving to Phoenix. After serving 60 days in prison, he was deported to Honduras in June 2005. The Combined DNA Index System now includes a DNA sample from Flores that was collected in Arizona in 2006. His DNA sample was found to match DNA at the Philadelphia crime scene in March 2007. The identities of "Carlos" and Flores have been established.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued a local arrest warrant for Flores on March 22, 2007, and he was charged with murder and several other felonies. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued a federal arrest warrant for Flores on the same day, and he was accused of fleeing the country illegally in order to avoid being charged. On June 2, 2007, Flores was added to the FBI's list of the ten most wanted fugitives. On the list, he took Shauntay Henderson's place. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information that directly results in Flores' capture. Additionally, he is the target of an Interpol red notice. He is thought to be armed and very dangerous. Flores, who speaks both Spanish and English with ease, is thought to either be in his native Honduras or to have moved back to the US. "Featured Subjects and Keywords"

In both countries, there is a massive manhunt for Flores, with authorities offering rewards for information leading to his arrest and some private citizens even taking matters into their own hands by forming volunteer search teams to comb through suspected areas where he may be hiding While many people are focused on bringing Flores to justice, his story has also sparked a discussion about what it means to be an immigrant in the United States and the implications of this case for the immigration policies in both Honduras and the United States This case highlights the harsh realities of what immigrants face and is a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by those living in both countries, especially those living in the United States who are without legal protection