Feb. 21 (UPI) — A 26-year-old man accused of bludgeoning a woman to death in a Manhattan hotel room earlier this month has been arrested in Arizona where he is accused of attacking two more women, according to authorities who raised worries that he may have additional victims.
Raad Almansoori is believed to be behind the murder of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, whose body was found Feb. 8 by staff in her room at the SoHo 54 Hotel in Manhattan.
Police had been hunting for him until he was arrested Sunday while driving a stolen car more than 2,400 miles away in Arizona where he is accused of stabbing a McDonald’s employee in the restaurant’s bathroom and carjacking another woman at knifepoint.
Authorities in New York City on Tuesday called on the public nationwide to contact law enforcement if they have seen Almansoori in their communities so officers can inspect potential connections to additional attacks.
“Anywhere that he’s visited there’s potential that there are other victims around the country,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard told reporters Tuesday during a press conference, “and we want to do our due diligence and make sure that we let communities around the country know that they should be aware of who this person is.”
New York Police Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters Tuesday that he is accused of killing Oleas-Arancibia, whom he identified as an escort, sometime between 2:14 p.m. on Feb. 7 and 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 8 when employees of the hotel found her dead on the floor of her room.
He said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, stating a broken iron was found in the room and that pieces of plastic were removed from her skull.
Their investigation uncovered that Almansoori seemed to have been in a dispute with Oleas-Arancibia over the time he was allowed to stay in her hotel room before she was murdered, Kenny said.
Days later, he is believed to have flown from New York to Arizona where on Saturday he is accused of attempting to carjack a woman and was able to escape the scene. The woman was transported to a local hospital where she is recovering, authorities said.
The next day, the police department in Surprise, Ariz., which is northwest of Phoneix, were called to a McDonald’s near West Greenway and North Reems Roads at about 8:30 a.m. to find a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Kenny said the woman was an employee at the fast food restaurant and that she was dragged into the women’s restroom where she was stabbed multiple times.
Officers began searching for Almansoori, who was later apprehended in Scottsdale driving a stolen car, the Surprise Police Department said in a statement.
Kenny told reporters that Almansoori told police in Arizona that he was wanted for murder in New York City.
“Google SoHo 54 Hotel,” Kenny said Almansoori had told police.
He also told police in Arizona that “he hurt three additional girls in Florida,” Kenny said.
Though he has never been arrested in New York, Almansoori has an “extensive” out-of-state criminal record, Kenny said, stating that his recent spree of crimes occurred as he was out on bail since September following an arrest on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault of an escort in Flordia.
According to jail records, Almansoori is being held in Maricopa County on a slew of charges from theft and robbery to homicide.
The police department in Surprise is expected to have a press conference about the case at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (4-0) prepares for their matchup against the University of Northern Colorado (5-1) on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m. in McKale Center in a nonconference matchup. The Wildcats look to continue their streak to 6-0.
The Bears are a highly efficient team, converting 44.2% of their 2-point shots and pairing this offensive prowess with a strong defensive effort. They consistently hold opponents to under 55 points per game, making them a formidable opponent in any matchup.
Leading the way is sophomore guard Neenah George, who averages 12.8 points per game and serves as the team’s primary ball handler and perimeter threat. George is particularly adept in late-game situations, using her quick first step to get by defenders and excelling both as a creator and catch-and-shoot player.
Anchoring the frontcourt is Tatum West, a reliable option who averages 11.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 63.4% from the field. West’s skill set complements George’s, as they often pair well in ball-screen actions, with West taking advantage of opportunities to roll to the rim, secure rebounds and score second-chance points. Standing at 6-foot-2, West is at her best when she gets touches with her back to the basket, where she can utilize her drop-step or hook shot and consistently draw fouls to get to the free throw line.
The Arizona Wildcats’ offensive strategy is centered around Mickayla Purdue, a senior guard who transferred from Cleveland State University. Purdue has made an immediate impact, ranking 13th nationally by averaging 22.5 points per game. Her scoring versatility was on full display with a remarkable 31-point outing against University of California, Irvine. Whether in isolation, coming off of screens or finishing easy layups in transition, Purdue consistently finds ways to put points on the board and remains the focal point of the Wildcats’ attack.
Supporting Purdue is Noelani Cornfield, a transfer guard from the University of Buffalo, who serves as the team’s primary facilitator. Cornfield leads the Wildcats with an average of 8.5 assists per game, orchestrating the offense and ensuring her teammates are involved. While she may not be a high-volume scorer, Cornfield contributes significantly in clutch situations, ranking in the top 10 nationally with a free throw percentage of 91.7%. Her steady hand is also felt on defense, where she averages two steals per game, providing leadership and versatility on both ends of the floor.
Head coach Becky Burke has emphasized the need for defensive improvement following a recent game in which the Wildcats allowed 76 points to NAU, a team she expected to hold below 60. Burke underscored the importance of playing with pride and intensity on defense.
“You can be dynamic on offense and also be dynamic on defense,” Burke said. “You got to have pride on that end of the floor. It’s got to matter to you just as much when nobody’s necessarily cheering for what you’re doing on the defensive end.”
With this mindset, the Wildcats aim to set the tone early against Northern Colorado by
forcing turnovers and capitalizing on their opponent’s vulnerability to giveaways. Generating turnovers will allow Arizona to push the pace, get out in transition and play their preferred fast-paced style of basketball.
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Brayden Burries gets embraced by his teammates during his interview after facing Denver on Nov. 24 in McKale Center.
Arizona’s final home game before Thanksgiving gave fans plenty to chew on in a 30 point win over Denver Monday night. The four freshmen Burries, Peat, Kharchenkov, and Aristode nearly outscored Denver with 69 points combined. Former Wildcat Carter Bryant made an appearance with Spurs teammate Dylan Harper since the Spurs played in Phoenix the previous day. Arizona now looks towards Norfolk State this Saturday.
Snake facts: 10 surprising, scary and very cool things to know
Why do snakes flick their tongues? Can snakes smell fear? This video reveals 10 amazing facts about rattlesnakes, flying snakes and other species.
The Republic
If you’re an Arizonan, you’ve probably heard the tales of the state’s rattlesnakes or experienced them firsthand.
There are 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes in Arizona. The Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake is even the official state reptile.
Rattlesnakes are particularly common to see from May to October, since the snakes typically hibernate during the colder months.
While rattlesnakes have earned a reputation for being dangerous, they generally only attack when they feel threatened. You might encounter them while on a hike or even in your backyard, so you might want to watch your step.
Take a look at these photos of some of Arizona’s different kinds of rattlesnakes.
You guessed it — Arizona has the most species of rattlesnakes in the country with 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes.
Texas is next with 10 different species of rattlesnakes.
While rattlesnakes can be spotted all throughout Arizona, there are five places where they’re particularly common:
Rattlesnakes are generally more common in areas with lower elevation. So, if you’re afraid, you might want to head north to Flagstaff.
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