Since Rajeet Kor Singh's partially nude body was discovered near light-rail tracks in Rancho Cordova earlier this year, detectives had been homing in on Demetrius Shaffer.
They found video evidence suggesting he was with the woman in her final hours. They searched for him, found him, questioned him.
On Wednesday, they made their final move: Booking the 32-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
Shaffer, who already was in custody in connection with an unrelated rape, also is accused of sexually assaulting the 27-year-old Singh before strangling her, according to Sacramento County sheriff's officials.
Spokesman Deputy Jason Ramos said Shaffer is the sole suspect in Singh's death.
Detectives suspect Singh and Shaffer met New Year's Eve at a mutual friend's house and continued, together, to the Rancho's Club Casino off Folsom Boulevard.
Soon after Singh's body was discovered the next morning, detectives found surveillance video of the two at the casino and began their search for Shaffer.
He was arrested Jan. 4 in connection with the unrelated rape case but was questioned as a "person of interest" in Singh's death.
Ultimately, DNA evidence linked him to her death, according to sheriff's officials.
At the time of her death, Singh was taking care of her mother, family members said. They described her as doting and protective.
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