A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with a slaying and a sexual assault that occurred within a week in July, authorities said.
Police officers arrested Apollo K. Ortega on Wednesday. He is facing charges in the death of 57-year-old Magnolia Ortiz, as well as the sexual assault of a 37-year-old woman, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ police spokesman.
Ortega was arrested after police matched his DNA, which was collected in another incident, with DNA from the two cases, Pacheco said.
He is facing charges of first- degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sexual assault, he said.
The first incident took place July 10, when officers found the 37-year-old woman in the 900 block of South Sixth Avenue suffering from stab wounds, he said.
The woman also had been sexually assaulted and beaten, he said.
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Less than a week later, two teenagers discovered Ortiz's body in a culvert near Palo Verde Road and South Alvernon Way while they were skateboarding, he said.
Later that month, police determined the DNA evidence matched the same unknown suspect, he said.
Ortega was arrested in connection with a charge of public sexual indecency Aug. 1 and was required to give a DNA sample.
Police matched his DNA to the other cases on Wednesday and he was arrested hours later, Pacheco said.
