More than 500 tips, a speed photo enforcement ticket, and a witness have led Tempe police to arrest a transient man in the May dragging death of 21-year-old Arizona State University student Kyleigh Sousa.
About 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Phoenix office of the U.S. Marshal's Service arrested Joseluis Marquez, 20, who was living in west Phoenix, on suspicion of first-degree murder. Police also said they have identified the other passengers who were in the car and are gathering evidence against them.
Police say Marquez was driving a champagne-colored 2008 Charger in front of an International House of Pancakes near campus about 2 a.m. on May 26 when he grabbed Sousa's purse and drove off. Sousa was tangled in the purse straps, but broke free as she fell hard to the ground and under the car, police said.
Sousa, an aspiring trial attorney, died hours later at a nearby hospital from blunt force trauma and severe head injuries before her family members could fly into Arizona from her home state of New Jersey.
The arrest brought some closure, Sousa's older brother, Bernie Sousa said from New Jersey on Wednesday.
Bernie Sousa, 33, said the family was informed Tuesday night of the arrest, a call he said was a surprise and one the family did not think would come this soon.
"I would say we have a lot of mixed emotions," Sousa said. "Our mom (Karen Montenegro) became emotional and upset and cried. For me, it's a sense of relief, but I wanted to know more about who this person was, and how they could do something like that to a person. This has been very difficult with us with the holidays coming up. We're all lost, but it's a little peace of justice that he won't be doing this anymore. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support our family has received."
Hours after the crime, police began reviewing a database of speed photo enforcement tickets to locate any cars that possibly matched the description witnesses saw flee the scene on May 26. Marquez was issued a speed photo enforcement ticket in Tempe on May 10, while driving a rental car out of California. The car also has been recovered.
During a crowded press conference on Wednesday, Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff, Cmdr. Kim Hale and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery (his first murder case as county attorney) said that the investigation remains ongoing and that justice will be served in what was a "senseless act."
"This death was very tragic," Ryff said. "In any investigation, we just don't want to establish probable cause and make an arrest. We want to make sure we reviewed every fact and detail. Last night, our investigation led us to what we were ultimately looking for - the person driving the car that night."
davidflucier posted at 1:34 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
The Tempe Police Department shows, once again, that they get results with good, basic police investigative techniques and processes and not by bowing to the demands of the misinformed who think that the way to sovle major crimes is to enlist the aid of a TV reality show.
Thanks, Tempe PD...for a job well done.
Slabside posted at 3:38 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
This arrest will not bring her back but I pray it brings closure to her family.
928 to 805 posted at 6:33 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
Good riddance to bad garbage. At least this guy won't be victimizing anybody out here ever again.
n7mk posted at 8:42 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
What a dirt bag this guy is. I hope he enjoys rotting in a hot place.
EmperorSmith posted at 10:08 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
what is his bail I want to take him camping.
dragonwyk711 posted at 10:14 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
I sincerely hope they throw the book at this guy. That girl did not deserve to die that way.
Please accept my sympathies for her family.
angryivan posted at 11:35 pm on Wed, Dec 8, 2010.
After he gets life in prison, I hope he becomes the other convicts favorite nancy-boy. He looks like he's thinking about all his future love connections. Prison rape is not funny at all, but in this slugs case it is well deserved.
madblogger posted at 10:36 pm on Thu, Dec 9, 2010.
What a loser. Rot in prison. It's pure luck and plenty of witnesses that helped Tempe PD. They are a lousy police department.
Masterrogue666 posted at 9:05 am on Mon, Dec 13, 2010.
Cameras in public help solve a crime. Good job TPD! Hopefully now her family will find closure...
Carolyn posted at 11:52 am on Tue, Dec 14, 2010.
Good bye, Joseluis. Good riddance, Joseluis. I hope your mama , your poppy, and your nana are proud of you. You have taken a life, disgraced yourself and your family, and you deserve NEVER to be released from prison - hopefully, you'll do hard time. Since you're only 20 now, you have many years to "enjoy" the consequences of your actions.