MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — A man who is believed to be a serial killer is in police custody for the brutal killing of a Queens woman at a SoHo hotel earlier this month, according to law enforcement sources.
NYPD investigators made a connection between the suspect and other incidents in other states, including an attempted murder of a woman in Arizona, sources said. Raad Almansoori, 26, was arrested in Arizona for allegedly stabbing two women, according to multiple news reports.
Police believe the suspect is a serial killer working his way across the country and he may be connected to other crimes in other states, sources said.
Last week, the NYPD released a surveillance image of the unidentified man wanted in connection with the death of 38-year-old Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, whose body was found at the SoHo 54 Hotel at 54 Watts St. in Lower Manhattan on Feb. 8, according to police.
The suspect left the hotel wearing the victim’s leggings, authorities said. Police said he used the woman’s credit cards to buy food and MetroCards.
A hotel employee discovered Oleas-Arancibia’s body in the room, police said. A bloody iron was found near her, according to sources. The medical examiner’s office ruled her death a homicide.
“We have video of [Oleas-Arancibia] arriving at the location wearing a distinct pair of leggings. And later on, we have a male leaving the hotel wearing the same leggings,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said last week.
A pair of men’s pants were left bloodied in the hotel, according to Kenny.
Oleas-Arancibia was a mother of two sons, according to a GoFundMe page created to help her family.
“Denisse’s life was taken away too soon and her boys are struggling with the events surrounding this loss and are in need of any and all support. Let’s help my family send my sister back home to Ecuador. Please help the family in any way possible,” the GoFundMe page said.
The NYPD is announcing the arrest at a press conference at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Lower Manhattan. The suspect has not yet been charged in the Manhattan incident.
This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.