Deborah Flores-Narvaez: Death of a Showgirl

Police car dispatched during iPhone incident

As the investigation of Flores-Narvaez's disappearance continued, Detective Garris performed a background records check on Jason Griffith. He discovered three prior reports indicating that the relationship between the couple appeared to have been a violent one. In one report, Griffith was listed as the victim and Flores-Narvaez as the suspect. In the other two reports, Flores-Narvaez was listed as the victim and Griffith as the suspect, and in one of those incidents Griffith had been arrested for domestic battery and coercion.

According to police records, Garris learned that Griffith called the North Las Vegas Police Department (NLVPD) on October 9, 2010, to report that Flores-Narvaez was at his home harassing him. When officers responded, Flores-Narvaez told them that two days earlier Griffith had head-butted her while she was sitting inside her car, causing her to break the windshield wiper-washer lever on the steering wheel column. Garris noted that officers documented the broken windshield wiper lever by photographing it.

Celeste Flores-Narvaez

At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Friday, October 22, 2010, Flores-Narvaez and Griffith purportedly got into an argument on a Las Vegas street over her iPhone, according to People.com. At one point he reportedly grabbed the phone and threw it about 100 feet. When Flores-Narvaez bent over to pick it up, she told police, he kicked her and pulled her hair. A clump of Flores-Narvaez's hair was found in the vicinity of the altercation, and it was photographed and collected as evidence. Police also noted bruises on both of her legs. Flores-Narvaez claimed that she was pregnant with Griffith's child at the time of the incident. However, the disposition of the purported pregnancy remained a mystery.

Griffith confirmed the argument over the iPhone, but denied hitting Flores-Narvaez or taking the phone, according to police reports.

Griffith and Flores-Narvaez had been dating for approximately one year, and, according to friends and relatives, it was a volatile relationship that seemed to be on again and off again. Their relationship resumed following the fight over the iPhone.

"It was a rocky relationship from what I understand, a lot of ups and downs," Celeste Flores-Narvaez, Flores-Narvaez's sister, told People.

Some people, including Griffith's former theater coach, Gerald Gordon, were obviously surprised when he heard about the domestic violence charges.

"Sex Gamez" video still of Florez-Narvaez licking
Griffith's chest

"He was one of the best people I had worked with... absolutely dependable, honest and talented," Gordon said. "I saw him a few weeks ago. He has a new girlfriend, and he seemed very happy. I would have recommended him for anything."

People also reported that Flores-Narvaezhad worked as a go-go dancer at the Rain nightclub inside the Palms Hotel and Casino, and had appeared in a hip-hop music video of Griffith's for a song called "Sex Gamez" in which she was shown licking Griffith's bare chest.

Flores-Narvaez's sister, who lived in Atlanta, flew to Las Vegas to help in the search for her sister after being contacted by Flores-Narvaez's roommate after Flores-Narvaez failed to show up for rehearsal.

"She knew something was wrong when my sister didn't show up for practice," Celeste said. "My sister is always at practice... She's very creative. She loves dancing. She loves people and being around her friends... [and] wears her heart around her sleeve."

In the meantime, as the investigation into Debbie's disappearance continued, a Las Vegas judge set an April 14, 2011, preliminary hearing date for the domestic violence charges. Those charges consisted of one misdemeanor and one felony.