Baltimore Police say they caught a suspected murderer in the act Thursday and believe the man may be responsible for another recent homicide.
Elias Josael Jimines Avarado is charged with first- and second-degree murder and other related charges in the death of 35-year-old Ranarda Williams.
Patrol officers saw Avarado get up from allegedly strangling Williams, according to police. She did not survive.
He is also a suspect in the murder of another woman in Baltimore. The other woman was also strangled to death and police believe both she and Williams were sex workers in the city.
Unfortunately, the victim did not survive: 35 y/o Ranarda Williams. Police believe same suspect killed woman last week on Bancroft Rd
— Brian Kuebler (@BrianfromABC2) September 9, 2016
"I've been doing this for 25 years and everyone up here is a police veteran, I don't think I remember ever interrupting a homicide in progress, that is such a rare thing," Commissioner Kevin Davis said. "It's a thing that was done yesterday at 3:40 in the morning because these patrol officers took their job very seriously and put themselves in a position to make this apprehension."
Police have also reached out to the sex worker community in that part of Baltimore and may have leads on other crimes Avarado may have been connected with.
Avarado is from El Salvador and has been living in the United States illegally, according to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
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