Forget Burlesque or Showgirls. A real Hollywood-worthy mystery is unspooling in Las Vegas after a Sin City showgirl seemingly vanished five days ago.
Deborah Flores-Narvaez, a 31-year-old former burlesque dancer for the Luxor's Fantasy revue, failed to turn up for a rehearsal on Dec. 13. Speculation over her whereabouts has become a hot topic on the Strip and beyond.
Here are five things you should know about her strange disappearance.
1. Who Is Deborah Flores-Narvaez? A quick glance at her MySpace page reveals that she is Puerto Rican-born and - raised but grew up in Baltimore, where her family now resides. Before she was a showgirl, she had a law degree and a master's in finance. But the 5-foot-5, 120-pound beauty always dreamed of being a dancer, having studied various genres. She was also a cheerleader for the Washington Redskins during the 2007-08 seasons, plays guitar and loves to perform in front of the camera, whether it's acting, modeling or dancing. She once tried out for So You Think You Can Dance and has been living in Las Vegas for the past two years.
2. The Facts So Far: Deborah's sister, Celeste Flores, has said that the family first learned Deborah went missing after a phone call from her roommate, who said she had failed to show up for rehearsals at the Luxor. This raised eyebrows because Flores-Narvaez never missed those sessions. The family contacted police and investigators found Flores-Narvaez's maroon, four-door 1997 Chevrolet Prism abandoned in a lot in the northwestern part of the city. Her purse was left on the backseat but there were no traces of her. A forensics examination is now underway. Flores-Narvaez's last known sighting was on Dec. 12 at around 7 p.m., when she left her Vegas home to visit an ex-boyfriend.
3. The Vacation Theory? While some have suggested that Flores-Narvaez might have gone on an impromptu vacation (her MySpace profile says she's "naturally curious and analytical, which makes me pretty adventurous and willing to try almost anything once"), her sister says that's unlikely, especially since she failed to notify her family, friends or bosses at the Luxor.
4. Her Dark Fears: One of Flores-Narvaez's friends and fellow dancers, Deon Ridley, told ABC News that Flores-Narvaez had expressed concerns about obsessed fans. "Being in the industry that she's in, being in a burlesque show, it's very risqué for any female in Las Vegas. Her safety is very important," Ridley said. Anita Mann, owner of Anita Mann Productions, which produces Fantasy, released a statement last week on Deborah's disappearance: "Our hearts and prayers are with Debbie's family through this difficult time. We strongly urge anyone who may have information about her whereabouts to contact Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, immediately."
5. Was There a Mystery Man? "Debbie was kind of private when it came to her personal life," Flores said of her sister. On her MySpace page, Flores-Narvaez said she was looking for a love match, but was single.
Also on her MySpace page Flores-Narvaez left a message that suddenly could have a whole new meaning:
"It's important to live life to the fullest as you don't know what tomorrow will bring...or if it will be here, but still have a good outlook and presence for the future. And the most IMPORTANT thing to remember in this life... Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!!"
Anyone with information, is encouragned to contact Las Vegas Metro's missing persons line at (702) 828-2907.