Co-worker: Murdered mom of abducted baby had problems at home
HOUSTON, Texas -- Maria Albarado is mourning the death of her friend and co-worker Carolina Flores. Flores was found murdered and her baby taken from her apartment.
Albarado and Flores worked together at the Hilton-Americas in downtown Houston.
"I used to give her a ride when we got out of work," Albarado said in Spanish.
She said Flores was excited about having a baby girl and often referred to her unborn child as "Princess."
RELATED: Woman may be posing as missing baby's mother in Greenspoint
"She was really happy about her baby and her pregnancy and she even showed me her ultrasound," Albarado said. "She was a really honest person and was really sweet and nice to everyone."
Albarado also said Flores' was in an abusive relationship.
Timeline in disappearance of Shamali Flores
"She would say to me and to the rest of the coworkers that she was being abused by her old man at home and that even one day she got kicked out of the house with her kids," Albarado said. "His excuse was that he was the one who paid the rent and if he wanted to he could kick her out of the house whenever he wanted."
She said her heart sunk when she learned that Flores was found stabbed to death Tuesday morning.
"I'm really mad about it because the children will no longer have a mother," Albarado added. "I just hope whoever has the baby will give it back."
24 HOURS LATER: Where is Shamali Flores?
TIMELINE:
Days after a mother was murdered in her apartment and her baby disappeared, investigators found her missing child.
Here is a timeline of events in the case that has captivated the attention of the nation:
Dec. 19, 2017
6:30-10:30 a.m.
Houston police said Carolina Flores was murdered sometime between these hours, and her six-week-old baby, Shamali Flores, was taken.
3:50 p.m.
A family member found Carolina's body in her apartment on Goodson Drive in Greenspoint. She had been stabbed to death.
A call was placed to 911.
5:30 p.m.
An Amber Alert was issued for Shamali. Her father, Marcos Mariano Tomas Palacios, was named a person of interest.
10 p.m.
Palacios was found in San Antonio with the help of the FBI. He was questioned and released by investigators. He is no longer a person of interest.
Dec. 20, 2017
2:30 p.m.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said investigators have a theory the suspect is a woman posing as the mother of the missing baby.
Dec. 21, 2017
1:00a.m.
Investigators received a tip and discover a couple holding a baby. The baby was Shamali Flores.
5:49 a.m.
Houston Police reported that Shamali was found alive in a southwest Houston apartment.
9:11 a.m.
Houston Police reported a suspect was arrested to be charged in this investigation.
1:30 p.m.
The mug shot of Erika Jisela Miranda-Alvarez was released. She was charged with capital murder. Allegedly, Alvarez recently had a miscarriage and portrayed Shamali Flores as her child.
