Homicide suspect arrested in death of woman found in Sacramento motel room fire
Investigators arrested a man suspected of killing a woman found dead Monday morning inside an East Sacramento motel room burned by a small fire, police said.
The homicide suspect was arrested after he was spotted swinging a sledgehammer at passing vehicles a few blocks from the motel room fire.
Sacramento Police officials told The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday that the arrested man remained in a hospital receiving medical treatment for “pre-existing injuries.” It was unclear how exactly he was injured.
Police said the suspect’s name will be released once he’s been booked at the Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of homicide in connection with the woman’s death.
Shortly after 6 a.m., firefighters were called to the Motel 6 at 1415 30th St. and quickly extinguished flames in a second-floor room where they found the woman dead, according to the Sacramento Fire Department.
Officers were called to the motel fire after a man was spotted leaving the room, according to a Police Department news release.
Shortly after, police received reports of a man swinging a sledgehammer at passing vehicles in the area of 28th and L streets near Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, a few blocks from the motel. Police said the officers “safely detained” the man with the sledgehammer.
Officers later received information that the man was associated with the motel room where the fire occurred. Homicide detectives took over the investigation and found evidence that indicated the detained man had killed the woman found in the room, police said.
The exact circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain under investigation. Detectives believe there are no other suspects in the homicide.
The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the woman after her family has been notified.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 4:00 PM.
