by A man has been arrested in Arizona on suspicion of two stabbings after being suspected of bludgeoning a woman to death in a New York City hotel room. The New York City Police Department announced during a press conference that they are seeking to extradite and arrest 26-year-old Raad Almansoori in connection with the death of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, on February 8.
Almansoori has not yet been charged in Oleas-Arancibia’s killing, but after his arrest in Arizona on Sunday for attempted murder, aggravated assault, and theft of means of transportation, he made statements linking him to the victim’s death. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny revealed that Almansoori mentioned the SoHo 54 Hotel to the police.
Officials disclosed that Almansoori arrived in New York City in late January and had visited an escort in upper Manhattan. Oleas-Arancibia was discovered on the floor of a SoHo 54 Hotel room on February 8, with her death attributed to blunt force trauma. The scene included a broken iron, and it is believed that the victim was working as an escort and encountered Almansoori that way.
Almansoori is also linked to assaults on women in two other states, including two stabbings in Arizona and an attack in Florida. In Arizona, he allegedly attempted to rape a McDonald’s employee before stabbing her multiple times. The victim underwent surgery and is now in stable condition. Almansoori is additionally suspected of another stabbing during an attempted robbery.
Authorities in New York are collaborating with the FBI to investigate if Almansoori has committed other crimes nationwide. They urge anyone with information on Almansoori to come forward. The suspect has a history of prior arrests in Arizona, Texas, and Florida, where he has previously resided. Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard emphasized the importance of potential victims in other locations coming forward.
