Apple Valley Sisters Formally Charged with Murder of 6-year-old Duke Flores

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. – The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office announced that both Jackee and Jennifer Contreras have been charged with the murder of Duke Flores.

The series of events leading to the arrest and now filing of murder charges against the mother and aunt of a six-year-old boy have been shocking the small community. Volunteers have searched for the boy, who the community later learned was autistic. The search quickly turned to a recovery effort as information slowly filtered through to the public.

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On Thursday, April 25, 2019, the family of Duke requested a well check since they had been unable to speak with him or see him for nearly two weeks. Twin sisters, Jackee Contreras and Jennifer Contreras, both 29, of Apple Valley lived in the same home located at, 22000 Cherokee Avenue in the Town of Apple Valley. After the well check at the Apple Valley home, Duke was nowhere around and the stories Jackee and Jennifer told authorities several different stories. Jackee was arrested on Thursday night for willful cruelty to a child. By early Friday morning, both Jackee and Jennifer were booked for the murder of Duke Flores.

On Monday, April 29, 2019, the search resumed at the Victorville landfill located at 17000 Abbey Lane. The search at the landfill was a result of detectives believing that Duke’s body was placed in a dumpster. As a result of the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office filed one count of murder each for Jackee and Jennifer Contreras.

Both will be arraigned on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Victorville Superior Court.

Meanwhile, the search crew has suspended their search efforts at the Victorville landfill for the day. The search will resume on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Homicide Detectives, 36 Sheriff’s Department volunteers, 3 canines, and 17 additional Sheriff’s Department personnel have been searching with assistance of landfill personnel. The approximate 70 feet x 70 feet 10 feet in depth, approximately 600 tons of materials, officials said.