Mother found stabbed to death in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn home

BAY RIDGE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A 36-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slit inside her Brooklyn home Saturday morning, leaving a tightknit neighborhood shaken as police search for whoever is responsible.

Maria Santos Flores was discovered just after 9 a.m. inside her residence on 85th Street in Bay Ridge, according to police. Neighbors told officers they heard screams coming from the home earlier in the morning, shattering what is normally a quiet, treelined block.

"I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine. Such a sad way to go," one neighbor said.

Residents said violent crime is rare in the area, and many were stunned to see detectives canvassing for surveillance footage. Argy S., who grew up in Bay Ridge, said officers visited her mother's home nearby.

"My mother lives about nine blocks from here and the police went to her house looking for camera footage because they say the perp ran along 5th Avenue so they're trying to find-" she said.

Family members arrived at the home but were too distraught to speak on camera. They said Santos Flores was a mother of two who worked overnight shifts, and they expressed confusion and heartbreak over her killing.

"It's a community neighborhood - one of the last community neighborhoods in Brooklyn and it's upsetting to hear that," another resident said.

Later in the evening, the victim's sister returned to the home in tears, joining relatives who went inside to be with Santos Flores' husband. The family described her as a great mother.

Police have not announced any arrests, and a motive remains unknown. Neighbors say they are hoping for a quick resolution as detectives continue their search for the killer.