Jason Omar Griffith, who dismembered Las Vegas dancer and hid her body at friend's house, gets 10 ye

By Associated Press and Daily Mail Reporter Published: 21:22, 23 July 2014 | Updated: 06:57, 24 July 2014 View comments A judge sentenced a former Cirque du Soleil performer to 10 years to life in prison on Wednesday in the killing and dismemberment of his ex-girlfriend, saying the defendant had revived the tempestuous relationship with

Man who dismembered Las Vegas dancer and hid her body at friend's house gets 10 years to life

  • Judge Kathleen Delaney gave Jason Omar Griffith, 35, the maximum sentence for his second-degree murder conviction
  • This was in spite of defense arguments that victim Deborah Flores Narvaez was volatile and Griffith had reported her to police 14 times to little avail
  • She said the responsibility for toxic relationship between the two continuing was Griffiths, to satisfy his own 'narcissistic predisposition
  • Police said Griffith grabbed Flores, a dancer in the racy 'Fantasy' revue at Luxor, by the neck during a fight on December 12, 2010
  • Griffith will be eligible for parole in a little more than six years, after receiving credit for 1,294 days already served

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A judge sentenced a former Cirque du Soleil performer to 10 years to life in prison on Wednesday in the killing and dismemberment of his ex-girlfriend, saying the defendant had revived the tempestuous relationship with the dancer to feed his own narcissism.

Judge Kathleen Delaney gave Jason Omar Griffith, 35, the maximum sentence for his second-degree murder conviction in spite of defense arguments that victim Deborah Flores Narvaez was volatile and Griffith had reported her to police 14 times to little avail.

'The responsibility for this toxic and ultimately tragic relationship continuing as long as it did was entirely yours,' Delaney said.

'The only reason I can see was to satisfy your own narcissistic predisposition.'

Police said Griffith grabbed Flores, a dancer in the racy 'Fantasy' revue at Luxor, by the neck during a fight on December 12, 2010.

Sentenced: Jason Griffith, right, reacts to his sentence to life in prison during his sentencing hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Sentenced: Jason Griffith, right, reacts to his sentence to life in prison during his sentencing hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Off to prison: Griffith was sentenced 10 years to life in prison for the second degree murder of former girlfriend Deborah Flores Narvaez

Off to prison: Griffith was sentenced 10 years to life in prison for the second degree murder of former girlfriend Deborah Flores Narvaez

He testified that he thought she was reaching for a gun in her purse and he restrained her until she died, then panicked and asked his roommate to help dispose of the body.

The disappearance of the victim drew intense attention for almost a month before Griffith's housemate, Louis Colombo, led police to her dismembered remains in tubs of concrete in a vacant downtown house.

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Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo called it a 'very brutal, brutal crime and aftermath' and said the family of the victims would serve a life sentence of sorts without her.

Flores' tearful family members asked the judge for the maximum sentence, saying they will never spend a holiday with her, take her phone calls or see where her dancing career could have led.

Celeste Flores, sister of the victim, said it hurt to think that Griffith would 'wake up every day and see the light of the sun' and enjoy other small things in life.

Griffith's lawyers promised to appeal the conviction to the Nevada Supreme Court, saying evidence that would have painted Flores as aggressive was not admitted at trial.

Griffith will be eligible for parole in a little more than six years, after receiving credit for 1,294 days already served.

Horrific: The dismembered body of dancer Deborah Flores Narvaez was found encased in concrete in 2011

Horrific: The dismembered body of dancer Deborah Flores Narvaez was found encased in concrete in 2011

'That's going to give him quite a bit of hope,' defense attorney Jeff Banks said.

Griffith sat motionless as his conviction was read in Clark County District Court in May, but blew a kiss to his mother, Charlene Davis, as he was handcuffed to be taken to jail.

Defense attorney Abel Yanez characterized Griffith's reaction as 'numb. Not upset, not happy.'

The jury deliberated for about 14 hours over two days after hearing nine days of testimony about the strangulation death of Deborah Flores Narvaez during a December 12, 2010, argument at Griffith's home.

Flores' sister Celeste sobbed into her mother's shoulder as the verdict was read.

She had said she wanted Griffith to be convicted of first-degree murder. The family left the courthouse without speaking with reporters.

Griffith's defense attorneys said they will appeal, and Yanez added that his client was not the person the killing suggested he was.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said he respected the verdict and understood it was difficult for jurors to decide guilt in domestic violence cases.

He also said at the time he expected Griffith to receive the maximum 10 years to life in prison sentence.

'You don't get to dismember a body and not serve life in prison,' DiGiacomo said.

He could have faced up to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder.

Deborah Flores' disappearance in mid-December 2010 drew intense attention for almost a month before Griffith's housemate, Louis Colombo, led police to her dismembered remains in tubs of concrete in a vacant house.

Tears: Celeste Flores Narvaez, center, and her mother Elsie Narvaez, right, hold hands during the sentencing hearing of Celeste younger sister's murderer Jason Griffith

Tears: Celeste Flores Narvaez, center, and her mother Elsie Narvaez, right, hold hands during the sentencing hearing of Celeste younger sister's murderer Jason Griffith

Happy day: Celeste, rights, hugs her mother Elsie following the sentencing, which will see Griffith in prison for at least six years

Happy day: Celeste, rights, hugs her mother Elsie following the sentencing, which will see Griffith in prison for at least six years

The trial was a tale of sex, lies, betrayal and violence between two passionate and ambitious Las Vegas Strip dancers.

Griffith spent four days testifying that Flores' death was self-defense.

He said he grabbed her from behind with his arms around her neck when he thought she was reaching for a purse that may have contained a gun.

No weapon was found. He said he panicked afterward and asked Colombo to help dispose of the body.

DiGiacomo derided Griffith's self-defense claim as a fabrication and said he did nothing to resuscitate Flores.

Griffith, 35, is originally from Brooklyn, New York. He went by the name 'Blu' as a performer in the Cirque du Soleil show 'Love,' based on Beatles music at The Mirage resort.

He testified that he juggled girlfriends and sexual acquaintances before and after he met Flores at a football halftime show in November 2009.

Flores, who went by Debbie, moved to Las Vegas from Maryland. She worked her way from go-go club work to a stage role in the racy 'Fantasy' revue at the Luxor.

Evidence showed that by the time they became intimate in early 2010, Flores thought their relationship was monogamous.

But Griffith was meeting several women for casual sex and pursuing Agnes Roux, a performer in the Cirque show 'Zumanity' at the New York-New York hotel.

Griffith testified that his relationship with Flores had movie-style 'Fatal Attraction' characteristics. He said she stalked, threatened, harassed and assaulted him when he tried to limit their time together, and that no one took him seriously despite more than a dozen calls to police for help.

Griffith Deborah Flores Narvaez

Accused: Griffith, pictured in court in May, has been found guilty of the murder of Deborah Flores Narvaez

Prosecutor Michelle Fleck said Griffith fanned Flores' anger by deceiving her about his sexual relationships, pulling away after accompanying her to an abortion clinic in May, then resuming their intimacy about the time of her 31st birthday in early July.

The two continued an off-and-on relationship until her death.

Flores had a temper, and several of Griffith's friends and co-workers testified that she became violent when she was angry - drawing stares and sometimes security officers during outbursts in public places.

Roux testified that she broke up with Griffith after learning that he was sleeping with other Cirque dancers.

She said she told Griffith in early December 2010 they couldn't be together if he was still seeing Flores.

On the witness stand, Griffith testified the fatal argument developed after Flores told him she was pregnant for the second time in about six months and wanted another abortion.

He said it escalated after Flores demanded he quit seeing Roux and devote his full attention to her.

Flores' arm hit his face, Griffith said, as she reached past him toward her purse. Griffith said he grabbed her from behind, fell backward to the floor and held tightly until she stopped struggling.

Colombo testified he helped entomb and move the remains. He received immunity from prosecution before leading police to the tubs of concrete on January 8, 2011.

Griffith was the one who sawed Flores' legs from her torso, Colombo said. Griffith said it was Colombo.

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