A Las Vegas woman was found dead in the desert after disappearing from a spy shop

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AZFamily) – In 1997, a young Las Vegas woman disappeared from a spy shop, leading to a frantic search that lasted months. Store owner John Flowers claimed Ginger Rios left his store that day.

Her disappearance led to so much more being uncovered.

A few months later, Flowers’ wife accidentally reveals to detectives the horror she experienced when her husband killed Ginger Rios. She led investigators to a remote part of the Arizona desert, where not only Rios’ body was found, but also another unidentified victim.

PART 1: True Crime Arizona Podcast: SPYKILLER – The Disappearance of the Spy Shop

It would take years and the invention of the former social platform MySpace to figure out who this second victim was and identify her as teenager Christina Martinez, who investigators believe was killed by John Flowers in his Phoenix spy shop.

Flowers manipulated the legal system, first declaring him unfit to stand trial and then concluding that he was faking it. In the end, he entered into two plea deals for the deaths, but indicated to authorities that there were other victims.

Witnesses, physical evidence and expert psychological analysis have led investigators to believe there are other unknown victims of John Flowers, but he is just years away from serving his prison sentences for the deaths of Ginger Rios and Christina Martinez.

While everyone knew him as John Flowers, his real name is Craig Jacobsen, although he went by 13 different pseudonyms over the course of two decades.

PART 2: True Crime Arizona Podcast: SPYKILLER: A Bizarre Confession

“Spy Killer: The Girls in the Desert” is the latest documentary from True Crime Arizona. It’s the culmination of years of investigations into a deranged spy shop owner, two missing girls, horrific discoveries in the desert and a race against time before the suspected serial killer is released.

While sitting in a prison cell, he wrote an email to the documentary’s host and true crime correspondent Briana Whitney during the production of this documentary. Police believe half of the details he discussed are true, mixed with lies and untruths.

Below is the full email correspondence via the Arizona Dept. of Corrections system:

Email #1 from Craig Jacobsen:

March 9, 2024

Greetings!! This is Craig Jacobsen and I really appreciate you filling out visitation forms and registering using the inmate email features for oppressed people like me! Please, how can I help you?

Jacobsen

#353588

Browning Unit Formerly a Death Row Area!

Jpay.com

Briana’s answer:

March 11, 2024

Hello Craig, thank you for the message. I’m a reporter working on a story about Ginger Rios and Christina Martinez. I hope you can give us more insight and details about how and why they died and tell us more about the crimes from your perspective.

Thank you very much,

Briana Whitney

Answer #2 from Craig Jacobsen:

March 11, 2024:

Hello! I will give you several interviews about all aspects of my life, the countless reasons for countless human murders and I need to be financially compensated. Unfortunately, my criminal life began early with thefts of more than 100 million dollars (San Jose Mercury News, reporter Sandra Gonzales, year 1991, February/March, 10 million theft, my last name was JACOBSON). Next I dealt with cocaine smuggling by private plane from South America to the Florida Everglades. Then I became even more involved in the criminal arena of contract killings by influential organized crime figures with whom I had become friends in federal prison. Again, I made it into the “big time” by opening four spy shops that had ties to the Tokyo sarin gas attacks and the Oklahoma City bombings. My life story, my reasons for intentionally killing several people, and my reasons for wanting compensation are obvious. Surely I will be released no later than 2031 and I will be an incomparable monster! I’m also a paid FBI informant with a code name!

Jacobsen #353588

Arizona State Prison Complex Eyman

Browning unit

www.jpay.com

PS Check out my pen pal page which is 85% true: Craig jacobsen@ conpals.com www.convictpenpals.com

Briana doesn’t answer.

Craig Jacobsen sends a follow-up message with an e-card attached:

March 14, 2024

Any comments?

Jacobsen #353588

Briana doesn’t answer.

Craig Jacobsen sends one final email:

April 10, 2024

Hello, this is Craig Jacobsen #353588, Arizona State prisoner. Interestingly, you can find lost video footage of Ginger Rios and Christina Martinez on Fox TV Phoenix in 1997 (May, June or July) with my ex-wife in the background watching what I was selling at the store at Spycraft 702 West Camelback, Phoenix. I am the person being pepper gassed and drugged with an electrical device to test the effectiveness of the devices. The man with them is the other missing person!

Jacobsen #353588

*Craig Jacobsen emails hours after documentary premieres on YouTube:*

September 13, 2024

Introducing Myself

In a few weeks there will be more about crimes from my past.

Craig Jacobsen #353588

Arizona State Prison Complex Eyman

Tanning unit

PO Box 350

Florence, Arizona 85132

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