Springfield, Mo. ~ On the night of January 7, 2026, at approximately 11:22 p.m., Springfield Police Officers were called to respond to a domestic assault at a residence on Juniper Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of 47-year-old Suzette Flores, a resident of Springfield. Her family has been notified of her tragic death.

After conducting an investigation, authorities identified 34-year-old Felipe Ayala III as the suspect in Flores' murder. Ayala was taken into custody and charged with first degree murder. He is currently being held at Greene County Jail and the case will be presented to the Greene County Prosecutor's Office for further review and potential criminal charges.

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Detectives are continuing to investigate this incident and are urging anyone with information to come forward. They can contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous report through Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com.

This marks Springfield's first homicide investigation of the year 2026. The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.

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