2 teens identified as persons of interest in Washington City stabbing at vacation rental

WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Two teenagers have been identified as persons of interest in the homicide of a California woman who was found dead in a Utah vacation rental over the weekend. Authorities have not yet apprehended the persons of interest.

At a Wednesday press conference, police stressed that the two teenagers are not being classified as suspects at this time. The pair has been identified as Mihaela Gabriela Sorescu, 16, and Abigael Paige Flanagan, 17. Mihaela also goes by “Bella” and Abigael goes by “Jay.”

“We are not classifying these two individuals as suspects at this time, they are persons of interest that we want to speak with,” police said. “We know that they were at the residence before the incident, and did take possession of the vehicle that was from the home.”

Police said the juveniles “were present at some time during the night before the incident took place,” and were the last people to see the victim alive.

“We’re trying to piece that together, as well, as to why they were all here together, what exactly was going on, and so that’s another reason we want to meet with these two and find out what’s going on,” police said.

Officials said they believe “something went wrong” between 10 p.m. on Saturday and around midnight on Sunday. There were no signs of forced entry at the home, and there are no signs of a fourth individual, police said.

“Roughly a two-hour period that we have unaccounted for that we want to speak with these two individuals about,” police said.

Officials said the murder weapon is believed to have been recovered at the scene, and the victim — identified only as a 47-year-old California woman — had “over a dozen stab wounds.”

The picture on the posters of both persons of interest (also seen above) was taken over the weekend, before the incident, police said. The juveniles were reportedly last seen in Bellflower, California, and may still be in that area, according to police. They are still at large, authorities said.

The victim’s rental vehicle was located in that area of California, and police said the two teenagers were “present in that vehicle at the time it was discarded there in Bellflower.” The vehicle is in police custody, and evidence is being collected from it after a warrant was issued.

Police said the vehicle was discarded in California on Sunday morning, but it is unknown where the juveniles may have been heading next. Authorities said the teenagers “have connections to the greater Sacramento, California, area,” and they are still believed to be in California.

“They are known to take medication, which we are unsure if they have their medication with them or not,” police said. “We want to check their welfare, make sure that they’re safe, make sure that we can talk with them, find out what happened at the scene of our incident here on Sunday.”

Police said they believe there is no further threat or danger to the public, but encouraged the public to “be vigilant.”

Anyone with information on their whereabouts has been asked to call dispatch at 435-634-5730 and reference incident number 25Z002501. Alternatively, those with information can email Sgt. Carter at JCarter@washingtoncity.org or email Detective Lloyd at TLloyd@washingtoncity.org.