An East Boston murder defendant duct taped the face and wrists of an older family friend, strangled him to death with a chain, and doused him with charcoal lighter fluid, then stole an television and electronics from the man’s house before returning and setting his remains on fire in the basement of a fully-occupied residential building, a Suffolk County prosecutor said at the suspect’s arraignment today.

MARCO TULIO FLORES (D.O.B. 10/3/93) allegedly told homicide detectives that he killed 27-year-old Jaime Galdamez because Galdamez had sexually molested him for years. Flores was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court this morning following his indictment on charges of first-degree murder and arson of a dwelling. At prosecutors’ request, Clerk Magistrate Gary D. Wilson ordered Flores held without bail.

Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum of District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s Homicide Unit told Wilson that Boston firefighters responded to 877 Saratoga St. for a house fire on the morning of May 23, finding Galdamez deceased in his basement apartment.

“In addition to being badly burned, the victim had been bound with duct tape,” Polumbaum said.
An investigation by the Boston Police Department, Boston Fire Department, and Suffolk DA’s office revealed that Galdamez’ remains had been set on fire after his death. Chemical analysis of items at the scene indicated that a container of Kingsford charcoal lighter fluid had been used as an accelerant.

Early on the morning of May 24, Polumbaum continued, Flores walked into the District 7 Boston Police station and made statements that he was responsible for both Galdamez’ death and the fire at his building. Flores also allegedly admitted taking a flat-screen television, two computers, and other items after he killed Galdamez.

A few hours after the homicide and thefts, Polumbaum said, Flores returned to Saratoga Street, reached in through a window he’d left unlocked, and ignited the fire. Two families with six children lived in the building and were at home at the time.

After waiving his Miranda rights, Flores allegedly told homicide detectives that he used a dog chain to strangle Galdamez as punishment for the past sexual abuse and to prevent him from molesting anyone else. Flores had never reported those allegations to law enforcement or anyone else, Polumbaum said, adding that evidence showed Flores had planned the murder “over days and possibly weeks.”

“This was not a situation in which something just came over him and he snapped,” Polumbaum told the court.
Kara Hayes is the DA’s victim-witness advocate assigned to the case. Flores is represented by attorney James Budreau. He will return to court on Sept. 13 and his trial has been tentatively scheduled for July 23, 2012.