BONUS: Monica Diaz and Michael Naranjo (Snapped: Killer Couples)

Summary

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Snapped: Women Who Murder – BONUS: Monica Diaz and Michael Naranjo (Snapped: Killer Couples)

Podcast: Snapped: Women Who Murder
Host: Oxygen
Episode Date: September 10, 2025

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Episode Overview

This special bonus episode from Oxygen's "Killer Couples" features the harrowing story of the Flores family murders in Pico Rivera, California. The case centers on Monica Diaz, a teenage girl, and her boyfriend, Michael Naranjo, who conspired to slaughter Monica’s own family in 2000. Through survivor testimony, law enforcement accounts, and forensic evidence, the episode meticulously traces the investigation, arrest, and trial–unraveling a case of forbidden love turned deadly.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Flores Family Massacre

[02:03 – 07:46]

• In the early hours of July 21, 2000, the Flores family was attacked in their home, resulting in four deaths: Richard Flores Sr. and his children, Richard Jr., Matthew, and Sylvia Jr.
• Surviving family members Esperanza Flores, Monica Diaz, and Laura Retta described the morning’s chaos, disbelief, and trauma.
• Quote: “It was a whole family massacred. It was just gut-wrenching.” – Prosecutor [02:43]
• Sylvia Flores, the family matriarch, survived despite life-threatening injuries.

2. Family Dynamics & Background

[07:46 – 09:52]

• The Floreses were a close-knit family; besides their biological children, Sylvia and Richard raised Monica Diaz and Laura Retta, the daughters of Sylvia’s late sister.
• Quote: “If you were there, you were part of the family. You were gonna get taken care of.” – Esperanza Flores [08:34]

3. The Night of the Murders

[10:32 – 13:40]

• Investigators worked with the surviving sisters to reconstruct the timeline of the attack.
• Monica said she hid in the bathroom after hearing suspicious noises, while Esperanza described witnessing her father bleeding from stab wounds.
• Panic and confusion unfolded as the sisters discovered their siblings and called 911.

4. Crime Scene Evidence

[14:10 – 19:04]

• The presence of pre-cut duct tape, a military-style flashlight with a red lens, and multiple weapons suggested a planned, tactical attack rather than a random home invasion.
• Quote: “The presence of duct tape made me go, okay. This is not a random event. This is a planned event.” – Lead Investigator [14:16]
• The rear door was found unlocked, raising suspicion that someone from inside the home allowed the killer(s) entry.

5. Forensic Links & The Investigation Focuses

[22:13 – 30:07]

• Survivors were questioned; attention turned to Monica’s boyfriend, Michael Naranjo, after Monica identified a knife at the scene as belonging to him.
• Both Monica and Michael had fingerprints on the duct tape used in the attack, directly tying them to the scene.
• Michael admitted conflict with Monica’s parents and was observed with a suspicious fresh cut.

6. Relationship Between Monica & Michael

[24:33 – 27:29]

• Monica and Michael, both JROTC students, grew increasingly secretive and withdrawn as their relationship intensified.
• Monica, academically focused and less athletic than her siblings, felt alienated and found validation in Michael’s devotion.
• Family disapproval escalated tension.

7. Arrest and Interrogations

[30:07 – 34:12]

• Forensic results led to the arrest of both Monica and Michael.
• Michael said little during arrest; Monica attempted to minimize her involvement.
• Quote: “I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe a family member could do something like that.” – Esperanza Flores [31:09]
• Search of Michael’s room revealed books about torture and killing, a checklist for the crime, and matching towels to those found at the scene.

8. Motivations and Planning

[35:42 – 37:43]

• Letters between Monica and Michael revealed fantasies about mass murder and professional killing.
• Police concluded Monica planned the attack, pre-cutting tape and unlocking the door for Michael.
• Quote: “These are just two evil people who carried out something because they wanted to be together.” – Lead Investigator [37:43]

9. Survivor Sylvia Flores’s Testimony

[38:11 – 42:29]

• Sylvia recollected being stabbed, witnessing her husband’s fight for his life, and Monica applying pressure—then strangling her in an attempt to finish the job.
• Quote: “To this day, I know she wanted to kill me, too. She was choking me ... I know I raised a great woman. I don't know that murderer Monica, who that is, I have no idea.” – Sylvia Flores [41:19, 44:57]

10. Legal Proceedings and Aftermath

[42:29 – 46:38]

• Monica Diaz and Michael Naranjo were tried as adults, charged with four counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
• Michael pled guilty and received five consecutive life sentences; Monica’s trial followed, where Michael attempted to take sole blame, but she was convicted and also sentenced to life.
• Appeals led to Monica’s resentencing (four consecutive 25-to-life terms); her parole was denied in 2022; Michael’s next parole hearing is in 2027.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the shock of the crime:
  “It was a whole family massacred. It was just gut-wrenching.” – Prosecutor [02:43]

• On the family dynamic:
  “If you were there, you were part of the family. You were gonna get taken care of.” – Esperanza Flores [08:34]

• On evidence pointing to premeditation:
  “The presence of duct tape made me go, okay. This is not a random event. This is a planned event.” – Lead Investigator [14:16]

• On Monica and Michael’s dark fantasies:
  “Monica talked about I want to see blood. She's talking about killing mass murders and says, ‘I want to see the blood on their faces. I want to be a mass murderer. The best job is to kill people professionally.’” – Lead Investigator [35:56]

• On surviving the attack:
  “To this day, I know she wanted to kill me, too. She was choking me ... I know I raised a great woman. I don't know that murderer Monica, who that is, I have no idea.” – Sylvia Flores [41:19, 44:57]

• On justice and loss:
  “I do not think justice was done. In all honesty, I wish them the same pain that my family felt in their last moments.” – Esperanza Flores [45:49]

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Important Timestamps

• [02:03 – 07:46]: The Flores family attack and aftermath
• [14:16, 19:04]: Details of tactical planning and evidence
• [22:13, 24:33]: Interview focus turns to Monica and Michael
• [29:05 – 30:07]: Forensic breakthroughs and identification
• [35:56]: Revelatory letters and planning details
• [38:19 – 42:29]: Sylvia Flores recounts her experience and recovery
• [42:42 – 44:57]: Trials, convictions, and emotional courtroom moments
• [46:38]: Updates on the sentences and parole

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Conclusion

This episode of Snapped delivers a detailed, emotionally powerful account of a devastating family tragedy that exposed the calculated brutality hidden behind teenage romance. The storytelling weaves firsthand survivor experiences with investigative insight, making it a chilling, unforgettable journey through love, manipulation, and murder.

Transcript

[Stephanie Gomolka]

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[Esperanza Flores]

I remembered being at home. It seemed like a typical night. Nothing out of the ordinary. I fell asleep. Shortly after that. I heard screaming. I saw my dad standing there covered in blood. I called 911.

[Lead Investigator]

What's your emergency? Someone stabbed my dad while we're sneaking or something. Somebody. What? Someone found my dad stabbed. Okay, hold on to the paramedics. Don't hang up. We've got Several stab victims in the house and several hysterical family members.

[Prosecutor]

It was a whole family massacred. It was just gut wrenching.

[Esperanza Flores]

I was in disbelief.

[Lead Investigator]

These crimes are contained in this home. The attack was directed on this family. Why this family? I have my belief that this was done with great anger, great hatred. Unconscionable. These are just two evil people who carried out something because they wanted to be together.

[Laura Retta]

He loved her. What do you do for love? Some people do anything they can.

[Esperanza Flores]

I wish them the same pain my family felt in their last moments.

[Narrator]

July 21, 2003, 30am Dispatchers in Los Angeles county field a terrifying call from the home of the Flores family.

[Lead Investigator]

901, what's the emergency? Hello.

[Esperanza Flores]

Someone was in my house and there's like my dad's on the floor and he's bleeding.

[Lead Investigator]

Monica Diaz made the first nine one. She said she heard somebody breaking in and screaming and she became scared and sequestered herself in the bathroom. She was so scared she couldn't move.

[Narrator]

Moments later, dispatch receives a second 911 call from 18 year old Esperanza Flores.

[Lead Investigator]

Okay, what's the problem over at your house? I don't know. I heard some like mom screaming and.

[Esperanza Flores]

My dad woke up and he was bleeding a lot. Bleeding from where?

[Lead Investigator]

It was from his neck. I don't know. I just saw blood alone.

[Narrator]

All available law enforcement officers are immediately routed to the scene. When deputies arrive, they're met by Esperanza, 16 year old Monica and their sister, 18 year old Laura outside the residence.

[Lead Investigator]

Wants to be. One Tom two can I have two additional units, code three. One or two make an entry into the residence. That's procedure. You want to. They would want to do what's called a protective sweep. Check and see if there's anybody else inside the house, even potentially a suspect. Deputy makes a right hand turn into a bedroom because the information was that there was a victim in that bedroom. He did a quick check and that victim was Sylvia Jr. He was a 14 year old young lady. The amount of injuries inflicted was so horrific she suffered a terrible death. The deputy continued in a westward fashion and entered a room. And that's where two boys were at. Richard Flores Jr. And then Matthew. They were young, 17 and 10 years old. Richard Jr. Was lying on the floor. Matthew, his body was lying, resting against his brother. He had suffered horrible lacerations. The deputy was shaken, visibly shaken. They did a sweep and found yet another victim that ended up being the father, Richard Sr.

[Narrator]

The children's mother, Sylvia Flores is lying on the bed bleeding, but she's still breathing.

[Lead Investigator]

The mother, the matriarch of the family is in critical condition. Her injuries were quite severe. Puncture wounds to her upper torso area. It caused for a collapsed lung. There were slashes cut off the windpipe. Sylvia was treated and then transported to a local hospital.

[Narrator]

After clearing the rest of the house, officers exit and secure the scene.

[Lead Investigator]

We had surviving members of the family and that would be the eldest daughter of this Flora's family and her name was Esperanza. And adopted daughters Laura and Monica.

[Esperanza Flores]

We were standing in the front yard. There was just ambulance, police cars, the lights flashing. There was just so much that I was just trying to process. It was just overwhelming.

[Laura Retta]

It was hard. It was hard to go through that and it was hard to have images of family when they passed away.

[Lead Investigator]

I've already been on the job about 26 years at that time, worked things to where I was exposed to a whole lot of death. Yet here, effectively an entire family was wiped out. That was startling.

[Narrator]

Pillars of their Pico Rivera community, Sylvia and Richard Flores were known for the large and close knit family they had raised.

[Esperanza Flores]

I grew up being raised not only by my parents, but my neighbors as well. My parents were very involved in the community. Our house was always like the central hub for everything. Me, my two brothers and my sister were really close.

[Narrator]

In 1987, the Flores family grew when Sylvia and Richard became the legal guardians of their nieces, Monica Diaz and Laura Retta.

[Laura Retta]

Our mom struggled with drugs. To be honest with you, I was five when she passed away. Monica was four. Cops took me and Monica away and gave us to my aunt Sophia.

[Esperanza Flores]

It did require an adjustment, going from a family of six to a family of eight. If you were there, you were part of the family. You were gonna get taken care of. You're gonna get treated like one of us.

[Laura Retta]

Richard made me feel welcome in the home when we finally moved in and made me feel like one of his kids.

[Esperanza Flores]

There was never a dull moment in the house. There was always someone laughing, making fun of someone. There was just always the love.

[Laura Retta]

Espy Richards, Richie, Sylvia and Matt played sports. My dad enjoyed watching everybody play a sport and I loved playing. And I loved watching him in the front of the stands cheering us on, playing basketball.

[Esperanza Flores]

I was decent, so I continued to play. And basketball was a pathway to go to college.

[Narrator]

By July 2000, Sylvia and Richard's oldest daughter had finished her first year of college, and the family of eight looked forward to spending the summer together.

[Esperanza Flores]

I felt like we had the perfect family, the perfect everything.

[Narrator]

But in the early morning hours, of July 21, 2000, the Flores family has been attacked in their home, and law enforcement have descended upon the chaotic scene.

[Lead Investigator]

The scene is well established, established as a crime scene. There's the yellow tape. There's police cars everywhere. There are neighbors that are up at this time standing outside of the yellow tape. The number one thing is we are there about getting the truth first. I've talked with the surviving sisters, Espy, Laura and Monica.

[Narrator]

With the sisters help investigators begin to build a timeline of the events that led up to the horrific attack.

[Esperanza Flores]

The night before it happened, it was like normal dynamics at the house. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I would say probably like 10. I think I was the last one to go to sleep.

[Lead Investigator]

Around 3:30 in the morning, Monica said she got up to use the bathroom. And then while she's there, she hears all this noise, footsteps. And then she becomes scared, so she just stays in the bathroom.

[Prosecutor]

Esperanza and Laura, they generally slept in the same room in bunk beds.

[Lead Investigator]

Esperanza hears a thud against the wall.

[Esperanza Flores]

I thought it was an earthquake, so I jumped out of bed. But then I realized someone hit the wall, like the wall connecting my parents room and my room. And I ran outside into the hall. And when I did, I saw my dad just holding his neck, and there was just blood everywhere. And then I just remember being like, dad, what happened? Dad, what happened? And that's when he got out the words, I've been stabbed. When I saw him fall, I guess I started yelling.

[Narrator]

That's when Monica exited her hiding place in the bathroom and ran to Sylvia and Richard's bedroom.

[Lead Investigator]

She found her mother lying on the bed. She goes to assist her mother.

[Esperanza Flores]

Saw Monica over my mom, and she was applying pressure. She was trying to help her. So I was like, monica, stay with my mom. Stay with my mom. So I want to go look for the phone to call 911. The dispatcher just kept asking me all these questions. And I was like, I can't do this. And I was like, he's bleeding. He was stabbed so bad. You can see parts of his insides coming out. And when I knelt beside him, there was just so much blood. Literally, my knees were soaked in his blood. And I covered him with the towel, trying to stop some type of bleeding, but I knew he was gone.

[Laura Retta]

I say my brother's room door closed.

[Esperanza Flores]

And I thought they were okay.

[Laura Retta]

I thought they were just scared from all the commotion that was going on. I go into my little sister's room and I seen something brown on her bed. Didn't know what it was until I got closer. When I realized it was blood, dried blood. I started screaming out her name. She didn't respond to me.

[Esperanza Flores]

Laura was in the hallway screaming. I was like, laura, get out of here. Go. Go outside. Go wait outside for me.

[Laura Retta]

I panicked, and I ran outside of the house. That's when Espy and Monica followed me.

[Esperanza Flores]

And the police were finally there. And they were like, is anyone here? I was like, I don't think so.

[Narrator]

The girls insist that their family doesn't have any enemies. Instead. Instead, they believe the attack is the work of a random killer.

[Esperanza Flores]

Everyone thought there was some type of serial killer on the loose, hurting people. I think that was the last thought that my family had when they were killed.

[Prosecutor]

If somebody would attack and kill this family, who else would they kill? Who else would they target?

[Narrator]

Coming up. Evidence inside the home points investigators toward a terrifying prospect.

[Lead Investigator]

The presence of duct tape made me go, okay. This is not a random event. This is a planned event.

[Narrator]

And a forbidden romance sparks suspicion.

[Prosecutor]

He gave her all this attention that she craved. She was head over heels.

[Esperanza Flores]

You don't know that.

[Narrator]

On July 21, 2000, the Flores family is attacked in their Pico Rivera home, leaving four dead and Sylvia Flores Sr. Clinging to life. Daughters Esperanza, Monica and Laura were spared in the attack.

[Lead Investigator]

These crimes are contained in this home. The attack was directed on this family. Why this family?

[Narrator]

While authorities scour the neighborhood for witnesses and suspects alike, investigators begin processing the Flora's home for evidence.

[Lead Investigator]

By now, it's past daybreak. Sun is up. This is a large crime scene. Each bedroom was its own crime scene. You know, you just start working your way in. The front door opens up into a hallway. From this hallway, I'm able to see little Sylvia lying on the floor. She looks as though she slid off the bed or is pulled from the bed. She had terrible wounds to her body, her torso. She had a piece of duct tape that was affixed to her mouth. The presence of duct tape made me go, okay, this is not a random event. This is a planned event. I continued down the hallway to take a look into that room which contained the two boys. Again, I see the presence of duct tape affixed to the bed. Richard's on the floor. It immediately jumped out. This young man didn't even know it hit him. His throat was slashed brutally. It's my belief that Matthew more than likely was awakened during the course of this event. He obviously fought. His body was lying resting against his brother. I'm standing over this young man to take a look at the wounds, the type of wounds, where they're located, all these things. And I remember catching myself because I didn't want my tears to fall in and commingle DNA on this young man. It made me angry and sad because of how violently he was brutalized. The stabbings. When you see multiple injuries to a body, it can support and give the belief that it was done with great rage. There was passion involved in this.

[Narrator]

Investigators continue down the hallway to the master bedroom.

[Lead Investigator]

I believe Sylvia is attacked first because her movement and wrestling in the bed by all accounts causes Richard to get up. Richard Sr. Had a number of puncture wounds, slashing wounds, defensive wounds to his body. It shows that he fought hard with his assailant. You gotta be in pretty good shape. I've handled over 300 homicides in my career. But there are those that are significant to me because of the gravity of it. The amount of death. In one scene as I'm walking down the hallway, there's a military style flashlight and it had a red lens on it. The red lens on there, that cuts down light signature. It's done in a military tactical setting to where you don't want to have a blaring light.

[Prosecutor]

So the attacker was able to see where he was going.

[Lead Investigator]

Based on what we were seeing, we had to think this was done tactically. This was methodical.

[Narrator]

Investigators continue to the bathroom.

[Lead Investigator]

This is the bathroom that Monica said that she had hidden in or locked herself in. CD'd. On top of the vanity, I saw a double edged knife. I saw another, looked like a butterfly knife. This looks like evidence items to me that made me go, hold a second, take photos. Let's go back there and interview with them again.

[Narrator]

In the kitchen, investigators discover the rear door is unlocked.

[Lead Investigator]

That family routinely, all doors have been locked, yet that rear door was unlocked. A couple steps down a landing, I see a backpack. Within that backpack, what was prominent was this particular towel, a multicolored towel. I see pieces of duct tape stuck to the air conditioning unit that's outside there. There's scissors on there. Then more compelling is lying on the ground, the hatchet and a double edged knife. They have a particular type of a handle wrapped black type of tape. And the reason I say that because one of those knives that sit in the bathroom had very similar wrapping, something handmade. We see these items in the bathroom, tape connected to the tape outside. Either one well thought out individual is coming to wipe out this entire family or there are multiple individuals involved in this. As investigators, you want to leave yourself open minded about things. But now this can't be a serial killer. The girl said, go get the people responsible for this. Which we heard a lot, right? Go get them. A way of diverting us away from them. At this point in time, I'm looking at the survivors. Something in the back of my head is going, maybe one of these young ladies is involved. Foreign.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

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[Narrator]

In just three years, she went from.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

Stay at home mom to traveling the world, saving lives and making millions.

[Narrator]

Anyone would think Candace's charm life is.

[Esperanza Flores]

About as real as unicorns.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

But sometimes the truth is even harder to believe than the lies.

[Lead Investigator]

Not true. There's so many things not true. You gotta believe me.

[Esperanza Flores]

I'm Charli Webster and this is Unicorn.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

Girl, an Apple original podcast produced by Seven Hills. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts.

[Narrator]

Authorities in Pico Rivera, California are investigating the tragic murders of 42 year old Richard Flores and his children Richard Jr. Matthew and Sylvia Jr. Investigators bring the surviving girls, Esperanza Flores, Monica Diaz and Laura Retta, in for questioning Saturday afternoon.

[Lead Investigator]

The girls were interviewed individually. What I'm looking for are the accounts consistent.

[Esperanza Flores]

It was just so surreal sitting there and just trying to answer these questions. Questions and making me feel like I was part of it or had some type of knowledge on what happened.

[Lead Investigator]

I presented these photos and asked first SB do these look like items from the house that you kept around? Are these items that you'd seen before? Esperanza provided that she did not. Laura quickly said no I've never seen any of that stuff. Stuff. What are those knives doing there? Quite frankly, early on, there was something about Laura that gave me a little bit of pause. She's. She's tough.

[Laura Retta]

I think multiple people had said, look at Laura. She might be the person for this. And it was only because I was always in trouble. I was always doing my own thing in my own little world, but I could never hurt a human being. I was always very protective over my brothers and sisters.

[Lead Investigator]

I don't know, just something in the old gut. Went explore this a little bit more. But that quickly subsided. When I now talked with Monica, I said, take me through this again. She explained what she did again. She was in the bathroom. Then I put the picture out there and I said, do you know anything about these items here? She looked at it and went, oh, I think Michael gave me that knife.

[Narrator]

Monica reveals she has been dating Michael Naranjo for the past year. Investigators begin to wonder if he could be involved in this crime. As they continue interviewing the three sisters, other officers dig into Michael's background and learn that he grew up in Pico Rivera, not far from the Flores family.

[Lead Investigator]

He had two older brothers long since out of the house, and he just resided at the home with his mother, father, and himself. I remember him being very. Just slim, clean cut kid, you know, very innocent.

[Prosecutor]

He was a good student. He was quiet.

[Narrator]

At 15, Michael joined the Junior ROTC, where he rose to sergeant and dreamed of becoming a Marine.

[Lead Investigator]

Once he got exposed to the rotc, I started noticing the changes in his clothes, aiming more towards the, I guess, military style. Michael started wearing black cargo pants and boots and had a bomber jacket as well.

[Narrator]

Investigators learned that Monica joined the ROTC program a year later.

[Lead Investigator]

That's where Monica and Michael met, and it's where their relationship started. They were only in ROTC together one year, but it was significant enough to where their relationship progressed and became more involved.

[Esperanza Flores]

He joined us everywhere. He had dinner with us. He went with us on family outings. Seemed like a normal couple.

[Narrator]

Monica's sisters tell investigators that while their family was passionate about sports, Monica always cared more about academics.

[Laura Retta]

She was straight A student, always in her books, always trying to figure out how to do things. Chemistry, AP honor classes.

[Prosecutor]

Monica wasn't the athlete that her sisters were.

[Lead Investigator]

There were some statements made that she was treated differently because she wasn't as athletically gifted. She was looked down on.

[Prosecutor]

So when she met someone like Michael who was devoted to her and gave her all this attention that she craved, you know, she was head over heels.

[Lead Investigator]

Michael and Monica, once they were together, they became more withdrawn. It was one of those things where they were together often a lot. Constant enough to where neighbors would mention that it was, quote, hot and heavy. The parents didn't want him to spend as much time as he appeared to be starting to spend at the home.

[Laura Retta]

Monica never had a problem with her grades. I think her grades started slipping when she did meet Michael. That's when Sylvia kind of had a feeling something was up when it came to Michael, I just didn't like him, period.

[Lead Investigator]

He had problems with the mother, even calling her ass she's a bitch. I was starting to think this young man's involved in this. And if she's involved, Monica is involved in it.

[Narrator]

With Esperanza, Laura and Monica waiting in separate interview rooms, investigators decide they need to speak with Michael Naranjo immediately.

[Lead Investigator]

We had him come there, we asked him if he would consent to an interview. Absolutely. Sat down and we start talking with him. He sat effectively at attention to where I was going. You can relax, young man. It's okay. We just want to talk to you about what happened. And it was, sir, yes or no, Sir.

[Narrator]

Michael admits Monica's parents didn't agree of their relationship.

[Lead Investigator]

He was talking about the problems he was having with the parents, that the mother didn't like him. They were always watching them. And I just remember that during the course of this interview, I saw something. What happened to your arm? He goes, what? He goes, what happened? Is that a fresh cut? He peels it back and there's a. There's a laceration. What happened there? You know, some guys at school were goofing around. They threw a bottle, a glass bottle, and broke. And I got cut. My partner immediately goes, michael, hold a second. That's not an injury received from somebody throwing a bottle at you. He got a little flustered. My hope obviously was, well, maybe I can get some admission.

[Narrator]

Michael continues to deny any involvement in the Flores murders. So investigators decide to collect fingerprints from him and Monica While they wait for forensic results. Michael and the three sisters are free to leave.

[Lead Investigator]

On Monday, we start receiving the word that preliminary testing and processing of items that had been collected started producing results. The flashlight that I talked about, fingerprints from the batteries inside of it. Michael.

[Narrator]

A forensic examination of the duct tape ultimately confirms investigators worst suspicions.

[Lead Investigator]

We have a roll of it outside. We have scissors there. We have pre cut pieces that have been affixed for ready use. Just peel it off, ready to go. They all came from one single strand consistent with the source item. The duct Tape and it also showed fingerprints. This piece was the one that was on Sylvia junior. This piece comes from what was collected from the boy's bedroom. We had latent prints of two individuals, Michael and Monica.

[Narrator]

Three days into their investigation, authorities in Pico Rivera, California, have connected 17 year old Michael Naranjo and his girlfriend, 16 year old Monica Diaz to the brutal murders of Monica's family.

[Lead Investigator]

The forensic examination of evidence items reveal prints determined to be those of Monica and of Michael. The 27th of July was when the arrest warrants and subsequent search warrants were served at two different locations. Monica had been staying at her uncle's residence along with Laura and Espy.

[Laura Retta]

A detective came to the door, rang the doorbell. They opened the door. As they're talking, there's cops on the side of the house walking towards the back to where Monica was. Then I'm seeing her walking towards the car is when I realized that they were arresting her.

[Esperanza Flores]

I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe a family member could do something like that.

[Laura Retta]

I think we were all confused. Everybody couldn't believe that our own family took our family from us.

[Narrator]

With Monica in tow, investigators race to Michael's house before he has time to learn of her arrest.

[Lead Investigator]

I go to Michael's house, I'm at the door and it's answered by his mother. And I said, hi, we need to talk with Michael. And I took Michael outside. I said, michael, you're under arrest for the murders of the Flores family. He just looked at me with just a nod. That was it. Handcuffed, put in the car for transportation to the station. We had set up a vehicle which was being recorded and put them in the seat together. Not an uncommon tactic that we use. And there was no wailing of, no, we didn't do this. What are they doing? Nothing you would expect from somebody that was innocent.

[Esperanza Flores]

You don't know that.

[Narrator]

At the station, the suspects are placed in separate interview rooms. Investigators sit down with Michael first.

[Lead Investigator]

So you want an attorney? Everybody said I should get one, so yes. Okay. Okay, then I can't talk to you. Okay.

[Narrator]

Down the hall, investigators confront Monica.

[Lead Investigator]

You know who did this?

[Esperanza Flores]

No, I don't.

[Lead Investigator]

You have no idea?

[Stephanie Gomolka]

I don't.

[Lead Investigator]

How about Michael?

[Esperanza Flores]

He hasn't said anything to me.

[Lead Investigator]

You think he did it? I don't think so. Do you love Michael?

[Esperanza Flores]

I do.

[Lead Investigator]

Would you lie for him?

[Sylvia Flores]

Would I lie for him?

[Lead Investigator]

Nobody. I'm telling you that Michael killed your family. And you know what? I don't want to tell you that. You know, he did tell us what Happened? Was this supposed to happen? Nothing was supposed to happen, though. Nothing was supposed to happen. Your dad told the people you came he believes Michael has been changed.

[Esperanza Flores]

My dad been telling me that for a while.

[Lead Investigator]

And that scared you? Yes. What do you think happened, why this happened?

[Esperanza Flores]

I didn't f any.

[Lead Investigator]

She wanted to try and mitigate her involvement in this. I just remember going, no, it just doesn't add up. They're ultimately booked into the LA county system. They were both effectively juveniles at the time. He was 17, she was 16. So therefore they go to a juvenile detention facility. We just have the search warrant.

[Narrator]

With Michael and Monica in custody, investigators execute a search warrant on Michael's home in order to gather incriminating evidence.

[Lead Investigator]

Quite a number of things that were consistent with some of the evidence. Items that had been collected from the crime scene location things like a particular type of cording that was used to wrap and make a particular type of a handle. He similar to the one that we had collected from the crime scene. There were books on torture. There were books on killing. There were books on how to kill, books on hand to hand combat. There was a military manual. It was all focused on someone trying to get schooled in the art of being a trained killer. He was an avid collector of knives. He had a large array of various types of knives that were in there. There was a notebook which had a listing of things. Basically a checkoff list showing the premeditation of this event. As I'm walking down the hallway, there's the hallway cabinet open. In that cabinet are these set of towels.

[Prosecutor]

There was a hand towel that was found inside a backpack that matched a similar brand of hand towel that was at Michael's house.

[Lead Investigator]

It's the same towel. It's the same brand, everything.

[Narrator]

Now with a mountain of evidence against Michael, investigators wonder how big a role Monica played in the crime. They return to the Flores home in search of revelatory evidence that leads to.

[Lead Investigator]

The discovery of a box. It was full of handwritten correspondence. Monica to Michael, Michael to Monica. I started reading and I saw the beginning of this relationship. You could read as it developed, writings about their future together. They were going to be married together and then became more, I guess you could use sinister. Monica talked about I want to see blood. She's talking about killing mass murders and says, quote, I want to see the blood on their faces. I want to be a mass murderer. The best job is to kill people professionally. Imagine how many victims I'd have If I lived 800 years. Monica Diaz assisted Michael Narando in The planning and the completion of this event not only involved, but she, in my view, puts it in motion.

[Narrator]

Based on their findings, investigators piece together a theory for what they believe occurred in the early morning hours of July 21, 2000.

[Prosecutor]

The evidence shows that Monaco took a large role in helping to make this happen. She cut up strips of the duct tape to give to Michael so he'd have it ready to go when he put them over the victim's mouths.

[Lead Investigator]

She then unlocked the rear door and allowed him into the home.

[Prosecutor]

She then went into the bathroom, obviously to make it seem as if she was just a scared young woman.

[Lead Investigator]

This was done with great anger, great hatred. It's unconscionable. These are just two evil people who carried out something because they wanted to be together. They're ultimately booked into the LA county system.

[Narrator]

Three days after the murders, investigators receive optimistic news about Sylvia Flores.

[Prosecutor]

It's a miracle that she survived.

[Sylvia Flores]

I remember my mom, really just my mom. I know there was other people there, but I don't remember them. And I kept telling my mom, my head hurts, my hair hurts, my something's going on. But I had no clue what happened. What happened? They still didn't tell me that Richard and the kids had passed. There's no way. And all I remember telling my mom, Monica did this.

[Narrator]

Despite catastrophic injuries in the attempt to end her life, Sylvia Flores has pulled through after the attack that claimed the lives of her husband and three children.

[Sylvia Flores]

I remember hearing Espy scream. I remember being put in the ambulance. I know I died. I know I was no longer breathing. My heart wasn't beating. I know I passed. And I saw Richard, Matt and Nina and Richie Rich. It was a beautiful light. Like they say, perfect weather, perfect everything. And them telling me, no, you can't come with us. Go back with them. Go back with the girls. And they pointed. I looked back and there was Espy and Laura. And I looked back to look at them. They were not there anymore.

[Narrator]

Investigators visit Sylvia in the hospital where she shares her memories of the attention attack on her family.

[Sylvia Flores]

I woke up. I knew I was stabbed. I was having problems breathing. And I saw the blood on me. The bed was moving. I didn't know what was going on. And I saw somebody on top of Richard. Somebody was hurting him. And somehow he kind of put push that person off. And remember the person falling on the dresser that was in front of my bed. And he took off. Richard got up. All I remember is telling him, I love you. He said something to me. For the life of me, I have no idea. Monica all of a sudden was there, and I says, go get a towel. So she went to the bathroom, got a towel, and I said, put pressure. Then I felt her hands reaching for my throat and applying a lot of pressure. I grabbed her arm. Her face was like she still has strength to hold her back. To this day, I know she wanted to kill me, too. She was choking me. She was trying to finish me off. But I didn't let her. No, not today. It's hard to say your child wanted to kill you. How can you hurt somebody like that, somebody you love? I don't even know how to describe it. Honestly, I have no idea. When I found out that Richard and the kids were killed, I was probably told several times, but I was in denial. I couldn't handle that information.

[Narrator]

With Sylvia's testimony in tow. One week after the murders, the Los Angeles district attorney announces that Monica Diaz and Michael Naranjo will be charged as adults.

[Prosecutor]

They were charged with four counts of first degree murder for each of the victims, and they were charged with a count of attempted murder for the attack on Sylvia.

[Narrator]

In September 2003, jury selection for Michael's trial gets underway. But on September 30, right before the trial is set to begin, Michael's lawyers contact the district attorney.

[Prosecutor]

The night before surprised everybody by pleading guilty to everything and in his plea, basically admitted to doing it all by himself. He talked about always having these thoughts of killing. He just needed the right opportunity, and this was the opportunity he had.

[Narrator]

On October 22, Michael is sentenced to five consecutive life terms in prison.

[Prosecutor]

When he was being told he's going to spend the rest of his life in jail, he just had no emotion. He was just very callous.

[Narrator]

Monica Diaz's trial begins in late January 2004. When she takes the stand, she continues to assert her innocence.

[Prosecutor]

She continued to defend herself by saying that she took no part in the murders.

[Narrator]

Michael also takes the stand in Monica's defense.

[Lead Investigator]

He was once again the dutiful soldier who's I'll take this all. I did this all. It's all me. She didn't do anything.

[Esperanza Flores]

On the stand, he was asked, why did he do it? And he said, I just wanted to kill someone. It's like, I liked them. I had nothing against them. I just wanted to kill someone.

[Sylvia Flores]

Why would he do that just to save her? You both wanted to be killers. Why not say we did it now? She told him what to say.

[Prosecutor]

He did this ultimately to try to save her from a lifetime of incarceration. But the jury Never bought it. She was convicted on all counts, sentenced to consecutive life terms.

[Sylvia Flores]

I think something happened in her mind. I know I raised a great woman. I don't know that murderer Monica, who that is, I have no idea.

[Laura Retta]

I went to ask her multiple times, why did you do what you did? Maybe she was dead inside. I don't know.

[Sylvia Flores]

They might have played off of each other and fed off of each other's characters, but it was all her. She is the mastermind of the murders.

[Laura Retta]

He loved her. What do you do for love? Some people do anything they can. He made her feel that good and she manipulated him into doing what she wanted.

[Esperanza Flores]

I do not think justice was done. In all honesty, I wish them the same pain that my family felt in their last moments.

[Sylvia Flores]

I love talking about Richard. I love talking about my kids. But no one brings them up. No one wants to say they were murdered.

[Esperanza Flores]

Retelling the story is hard, but remembering them is even harder because I can't get that time back. And it's harder because the memories of them are fading. It's hard to share the good things that we did. It's hard to go back and replay all those beautiful memories.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

In 2005, Monica Diaz's life sentence was overturned by a three member appellate court panel. In 2009, she was resentenced to four consecutive sentences of 25 years to life. Her parole eligibility was denied in 2022. Michael Naranjo will be eligible for parole in 2027.

[Lead Investigator]

How hard is it to kill a planet? Maybe all it takes is a little drilling, some mining, and a whole lot of carbon pumped into the atmosphere. When you see what's left, it starts to look like a crime scene.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

Are we really safe?

[Lead Investigator]

Is our water safe?

[Narrator]

You destroyed our tap.

[Lead Investigator]

And crimes like that, they don't just happen.

[Stephanie Gomolka]

We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable.

[Lead Investigator]

They're the result of choices by people. Ruthless oil tycoons, corrupt politicians, even organized crime. These are the stories we need to be telling about our changing planet. Stories of scams, murders and coverups that are about us and the things we're doing to either protect our the earth or destroy it. Follow Lawless Planet on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes of Lawless Planet early and ad free right now by joining Wondry plus in the Wondry app, Apple podcasts or spot.