NEW YORK (WPIX) — The suspect who allegedly killed a Queens woman in a New York City hotel bragged about the brutal murder after he was recently apprehended for allegedly stabbing two women in Arizona, authorities said Tuesday. Now, New York police are asking other law enforcement agencies around the country to review whether the suspect may be connected to crimes in their jurisdictions.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Raad Almansoori, allegedly bludgeoned Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, to death with an iron after the two fought inside room 1109 at the SoHo 54 Hotel at 54 Watts St. in Lower Manhattan earlier this month, authorities said.
A hotel employee discovered Oleas-Arancibia’s body in the room on the morning of Feb. 8, police said. Authorities determined the victim died of blunt force trauma, and said she had pieces of plastic in her head from a bloody iron that was found near her body.
“It appears there was a dispute over time allowed to stay in the room after services were rendered,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, adding that Almansoori allegedly met with an escort in Manhattan the day before the slaying.
Almansoori allegedly left his blood-stained pants in the room and walked out of the hotel in the victim’s leggings before hopping on a plane from Newark Liberty International Airport to Arizona on Feb. 12, police said. The suspect is accused of later carjacking a woman at knifepoint in Phoenix and stabbing a McDonald’s worker several times in the restaurant bathroom over the weekend, authorities said.
Police in Scottsdale, Arizona, took Almansoori into custody for allegedly driving a stolen car, Kenny explained. Almansoori, 26, told the officers he was wanted for a homicide in New York, Kenny said.
“You should Google SoHo 54 hotel,” Almansoori allegedly said to the officers.
Authorities in Arizona contacted law enforcement in New York, and both are currently working on an extradition treaty, Kenny said. It is unclear when Almansoori will be brought to New York City to face charges.
Almansoori has an extensive arrest history in several states, including Florida, Texas and Arizona. Kenny said Almansoori was accused in April 2023 of kidnapping and sexual assault in Florida, and posted his own bail in that case in September. Most of his arrests were related to domestic violence and assault.
Almansoori allegedly told Arizona police that he hurt three more girls, Kenny said Tuesday. Authorities believe there may be more victims in other states and have reached out to the FBI for assistance.
“We are asking the public, as well as other law enforcement agencies around the country, to reach out to us if they have any further information on Raad Almansoori,” Kenny said, telling reporters that Almansoori has been known to reside in Florida and Texas in addition to Arizona, where his family lives.