A 51-year-old man is facing murder and other charges in connection with the death of a 5-year-old girl who vanished while playing outside her Philadelphia home more than 25 years ago, authorities said.
Background
Iriana DeJesus was last seen on July 29, 2000, playing outside her home on the 3900 block of North Fairhill Street in Philadelphia. Her mother reported her disappearance that same day, and investigators immediately began searching for the missing child.
Five days later, on August 3, 2000, authorities discovered Iriana's body wrapped in wallpaper inside a vacant structure located just one block from where she was last seen, according to WPVI. The autopsy determined she had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death.
It took investigators seven years to develop DNA evidence linking Alexis Flores to the crime scene, court records show. According to the FBI, Flores was an itinerant worker with ties to Honduras who had lived in the apartment building where Iriana's body was discovered. He was last seen with a Hispanic male who claimed to be from Honduras and was seeking work and housing.
Flores allegedly fled the area at the same time Iriana was reported missing. He later served time in Arizona on a forgery charge and was deported to Honduras following his release in 2005, authorities said.
The Charges
Flores faces charges including murder, kidnapping for ransom, interference with the custody of children, and false imprisonment, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. He had been listed on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list for years before his capture.
In February 2026, the FBI announced that Flores had been arrested in Honduras. While he reportedly fought extradition to the United States, authorities were successful this week in bringing him back to Philadelphia.
"The passage of time does not diminish our resolve or perseverance in the pursuit of justice," FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs said in a statement. "The arrest of Alexis Flores is the culmination of 25 years of tireless investigative effort and the strength of our partnerships across departments."
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf emphasized the government's commitment to pursuing fugitives who flee jurisdiction.
"No matter how long it takes or how far they may run, when it comes to a heinous crime like this, justice will be waiting," Metcalf said.
Key Takeaways
- Iriana DeJesus was 5 years old when she disappeared on July 29, 2000, while playing outside her Philadelphia home
- Her body was found wrapped in wallpaper inside a vacant building one block away five days later
- DNA evidence linked Alexis Flores to the crime scene seven years after the killing
- Flores spent time incarcerated in Arizona before being deported to Honduras in 2005
- He was arrested in Honduras in February 2026 and extradited to Philadelphia this week
What's Next
Flores was arraigned on Monday, court records show. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 14.
The case highlights how authorities continue pursuing cold cases decades after they occur.