AVONDALE, ARIZ. — Avondale police found the remains of two people in a backyard in Avondale, Ariz. On Thursday. Police designated Matthew Flores as a suspect in the missing persons investigation on Thursday.

The discovery followed a welfare check at a home in Litchfield Park, where officers saw evidence of foul play. The Phoenix police homicide unit assisted in recovering the remains, which were in a state of decomposition. The human remains found in the backyard had not been identified as of Thursday afternoon.

Avondale police are searching for a missing father and mother whose son is believed to have fled the country. Family members called police on Tuesday afternoon and said they expected the mother, father, and their adult son to be at the residence. Flores, 27, was initially part of the missing persons report made by concerned family members on Tuesday. Police did not release the names of the parents on Thursday at the request of the family that reported the people missing.

Daniel Benavidez, an Avondale police spokesperson, described the physical evidence found at the scene. "We identified a large amount of blood, and we also identified what we believed as evidence in an attempt to conceal that blood, and that’s what made us believe that foul play is involved," Benavidez said. Police stated they have leads in the case and are looking for Flores. Authorities asked anyone with information about Flores’ movements or location to contact the department.

Benavidez addressed the current status of the suspect during a press conference. "All I can say is that he fled the country," Benavidez said. Daniel Benavidez did not specify to which country Flores is believed to have fled. Police did not state how long the bodies were believed to have been in the backyard.

Legal proceedings related to the case have encountered a procedural pause. According to wpbf.com, Flores' lawyer filed a motion asking that doctors examine Flores and make sure he is competent, which caused the prosecution to pause. The report indicated it could take another month or two to have Flores examined and move forward.

The investigation shows the transition from a missing persons case to a homicide probe involving potential international flight. The use of forensic evidence, including blood detection and concealment attempts, formed the basis for the foul play determination. The competency exam requested by the defense introduces a delay in the judicial process while authorities continue their search.

This case adds to a series of recent reports involving the discovery of remains in residential areas. Earlier coverage on 2026-06-22 reported that human remains were found in a southwest suburban backyard. PureSource News reported on 2026-04-24 that Davis announced the discovery of three children’s remains in Memphis.

Earlier coverage on 2026-06-06 reported that a 4-year-old boy was found buried in a tote bag in a father's yard one year after being reported missing. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges law enforcement agencies face in locating missing individuals and investigating clandestine burials.

Why It Matters

The discovery shifts a missing persons report into a homicide investigation involving two unidentified victims and a suspect who has fled the country. This international flight complicates the search for Flores while authorities rely on forensic evidence of blood concealment to establish foul play. The case leaves a family waiting for confirmation of their parents' identities as legal proceedings face potential delays.