Police Continue Search for Missing Las Vegas Showgirl, Ex-Beau Is 'Person of Interest'
Debbie Flores-Narvaez went missing Dec. 12
Dec. 22, 2010 — -- Police are continuing their search for the missing Las Vegas showgirl Debbie Flores-Narvaez, and her ex-boyfriend had a court appearance Tuesday to answer to charges that he had beaten her up in an earlier incident.
An attorney for Jason "Blu" Griffith, an aspiring rapper, appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on his behalf. The judge set a preliminary hearing date for April 2011.
Griffith is charged with one count of domestic-violence-related battery, a misdemeanor, and one count of coercion, a felony. Neither Griffith nor his attorney returned several calls for comments to ABC News yesterday.
Griffith is accused of kicking and punching lFlores-Narvaez, a lawyer turned dancer, on Oct. 22.
Ex Is Person of Interest
A police report said the alleged abuse started when Griffith took Flores-Narvaez's iPhone and she argued with him about it.
Griffith acknowledged arguing with her, but denied being violent or taking her phone, the police report said.
The police report also said Flores-Narvaez had bruises on her legs and lost a tuft of her hair.
The 31-year-old Flores-Narvaez, a former NFL cheerleader who was a burlesque dancer at the Luxor Casino's "Fantasy" show, was last seen with Griffith on Dec. 12.
Griffith is considered a person of interest because he was the last person to see Flores-Narvaez before she disappeared, but he is not a suspect and is cooperating with the investigation, police said.
"We have spoken to her ex-boyfriend and he stated that they did have a short conversation. She then left in her vehicle, and when she left everything was fine and she appeared to be fine," Lt. Rob Lundquist of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday at a press conference. "At this point we're going to look at every aspect into this investigation as if it is foul play, but at this point we haven't found any evidence of foul play."
Flores-Narvaez told police who responded to the October incident that she'd been dating Griffith for a year and was pregnant with his child.
Missing Dancer Had Violent Past
It turns out that Flores-Narvaez herself has been in legal trouble. Her criminal record indicates she had faced disorderly conduct and harassment charges. Court documents obtained by ABC News also show that four people had requested protective orders against her and three of the requests were granted.
She is also facing serious financial difficulties. Court documents showed that numerous liens and judgments totaling tens of thousands of dollars had been filed against her.
The family is holding out hope for the woman's safe return.
Forensic Tests Being Conducted
"Bring her home. Let her go. Let us know something. What is it that you want?" Celeste Flores-Narvaez, Debbie's sister, said in a public plea to get her home.
After the dancer was reported missing, police found her car in a parking lot in the northwest section of the city. They conducted forensic tests. Several published reports say investigators found a purse or makeup bag in the back seat, but police say that's not true.
Dancing was Debbie Flores-Narvaez's dream. According to her Facebook page, she had a law degree and a master's in finance. Her sister said she'd also been a cheerleader for the Washington Redskins.
Debbie Flores-Narvaez had put all that on hold for a chance at headlining on the Las Vegas strip.
ABC News' Daisha Riley contributed to this report.