Man accused or murdering Debbie Flores Narvaez in 2010 to stand trial

Jason Blu Griffith

Blu Griffith scheduled for trial next week

LAS VEGAS — Jason Griffith, known locally in Las Vegas as Blu Griffith, is scheduled to go to trial next week for the grisly murder and dismemberment of his ex-girlfriend Debbie Flores Narvaez.

(Feb. 20, 2014.  Court records now indicate that the trial has been postponed.  It  is the SIXTH postponement. A court date/calendar call is now scheduled for March 5)

It’s been over three years since her sister’s death and Celeste Flores Narvaez, who is credited with bringing national attention to her sister’s disappearance and murder, told Las Vegas World News that she will be attending the murder trial of Blu Griffith that is scheduled to begin on Feb. 24.

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Debbie Flores Narvaez, 31, was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Baltimore. She held a law degree and an MBA in finance. She also spoke four languages.

According to those who knew her she enjoyed being in the spotlight. Her intelligence, great looks and dancing ability landed her a position as an ambassador for the Washington Redskins during the 2007-08 seasons. She had even tried out for a spot on a nationally televised show.

Two years before her death she relocated to Las Vegas to pursue her love of the arts. She worked as a dancer in the topless “Fantasy” show at the Luxor and was also involved in adult-type of modeling. She was featured in Griffith’s video “Sex Gamez”.

Debbie Flores Narvaez was last seen outside suspect’s home

Her relationship with on-again off-again boyfriend Blu Griffth, a dancer at Cirque du Soleil’s “Love” was tumultuous and, at times, violent. Police had responded to three domestic violence calls that involved the couple.  Two of the complaints were against Griffith and one was against Flores Narvaez.

At the time of her death they were reportedly no longer in a dating relationship.

Debbie Flores Narvaez (Photos: Missing person flyer handouts)

Although the two remained in contact with one another, Flores Narvaez may have sensed she was in danger and may have even tried to send a warning message to her family.

Her mother received a strange text message on Dec. 1, from her daughter that said, “In case there is ever an emergency with me, contact Blu Griffith in Vegas. My ex-boyfriend. Not my best friend.”  Her mother asked her about the message and she told her mother to, “Just keep it for your records.”

Twelve days later, Debbie Flores Narvaez disappeared.

When Flores Narvaez failed to show up for rehearsal at work, family and friends were immediately concerned. They knew that Debbie Flores Narvaez never missed a rehearsal, and she was also known as being highly responsible.

Narvaez’ sister, Celeste Flores Narvaez, traveled from her home and arrived in Las Vegas to organized efforts to locate her sister.  She said she felt Griffith was “uncooperative” and not being truthful when he told her during a telephone conversation that her sister was depressed and living out of her car.

Police zeroed in on Griffith since Narvaez was last seen outside of his residence.

Initially he had contended that they did talk outside of his apartment but that she had left. The intensive police investigation along with information provided by individuals who had knowledge of the case uncovered the grisly truth.

Griffith had invited Narvaez to his home on Dec. 12, purportedly to watch television. There was another man in the home, Louis Columbo.  He claims that the couple argued and said he was present when Griffith began to choke Narvaez. At one point, he said he had to pull Griffith off of her.

Strangely, he left Griffith’s residence after witnessing the violence. He claims that he felt the situation had calmed down enough, and he had to drive a family member somewhere.

He said that Griffith called him a few hours later and told him to come back to the apartment alone. When he returned he claimed that Griffith told him that it was a, “change your diaper moment,”  and showed him Flores Narvaez’ dead body.  Columbo did not call the police and helped Griffith put Narvaez’ body in a tub which they filled with cement.

On Dec. 15, three days after the murder, Griffith and Columbo drove a rented U-Haul and transported Flores Narvaez’  body to the home of Kalae Casorso, purportedly a friend of Columbo’s.

Kalae Casorso said she was afraid

Casorso, according to the police report filed, said that Griffith asked if he could store some items in her residence . She told him that she didn’t have too much space, but he could come over and see if there was room to fit the items in a closet or out on the patio.

Griffith showed up at Casorso’s home at approximately 11 p.m. on Dec. 15. Cararso said she had no idea he was bringing along the items he wanted to store until she heard noises outside, saw the U-Haul and a tub filled with concrete. She asked what was in it and he said, “Debbie’s in there.” She refused to allow the tub to be stored at her residence and told both men to remove it.

They left with Columbo driving the U-haul. Casorso did not contact the police.

Griffith and Columbo then decided to store the tub at a friends home who lived in downtown Las Vegas and was out of the country. They ran into an unexpected problem when the tub started to leak so they broke up the cement, hacked up the body and placed the body parts in plastic bags.  They distributed the body parts in two tubs, filled the tubs with cement and left the tubs in a closet of the downtown Las Vegas home.

On Dec. 22, police searched Griffith’s apartment and found a receipt from the Flying J Truck Stop for microfiber sponges and bleach.  The receipt was dated Dec. 15, 2010.

Big break in Debbie Flores Narvaez case

A big break in the case occurred when Casorso contacted police approximately three weeks after Griffith and Columbo tried to hide the body at her residence. A friend that she had confided in, who happened to know someone at the police department, helped arrange for her to come forward.

Casorso has been widely criticized for not coming forward right away, however Celeste Flores Narvaez said, “It took courage to do what she did,” and she understands why she was scared.

Louis Columbo not charged in Debbie Flores Narvaez murder

On Jan. 7, 2011, Columbo was questioned, provided key information about the murder and reportedly led authorities to the body of Debbie Flores Narvaez, after he received assurances that that he would not be arrested.

Police had reportedly also obtained GPS information from the rented U-Haul.

Although it has never been officially confirmed by authorities, it is widely believed that Louis Columbo was offered immunity, since he was not charged with any type of crime in connection with the murder of Debbie Flores Narvaez and the dismemberment and disposal of her body.

Griffith was arrested for murder and has been behind bars at the CCDC since Jan 8, 2011. He has reportedly told detectives that the murder was not premeditated and that he acted in self-defense.

His trial has been delayed five times over the past three years and is now scheduled to begin Feb. 24.

Some of the delays have resulted from Griffith’s team trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to admit evidence that painted Debbie Flores Narvaez as someone who obsessively stalked other men and had violent tendencies to bolster Griffith’s claim of self defense. It is unknown if one of those men, ex-boyfriend Jamile McGee, who obtained a restraining order against Flores Narvaez in 2009, will be permitted to testify.

(Feb. 20, 2014.  Court records now indicate that the trial has been postponed.  It  is the SIXTH postponement. A court date/calendar call is now scheduled for March 5)

Celeste Flores Navaez will be present at the trial which is expected to last two weeks.

She told Las Vegas World News that her sister was, ” Warm, loving and passionate,” and the type of person who, “Would give her all,”  to her family and friends.

Related articles

• Trial in ‘Fantasy’ dancer’s death, dismemberment rescheduled after expert witness deemed unavailable
• The final hours of a Luxor dancer

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