Philly Strangler Suspect Arrested
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: January 18, 2011
Philadelphia Police have arrested a person of interest in the Kensington Strangler case.
DNA links 22-year-old Antonio Rodriguez to three murders in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, police said at a Monday night press conference.
During that press conference a 911 call came in saying that Rodriguez was on the 3300 block of Mutter Street in Kensington.
An officer investigating saw Rodriguez heading into the back of a house.
Rodriguez fled on foot but was caught nearby.
Rodriguez is about 5-foot-9, 155 pounds with a large scar from his left ear to the middle of his throat with various tattoos including the name "Kiera" tattooed on his left arm and "Scorpio" tattooed on his right arm.
He is fluent in Spanish and English and has an arrest record.
Rodriguez is homeless but frequents the Kensington area, police said.
Police zeroed in on Rodriguez after State Police told Philadelphia detectives that his DNA matched the Kensington attacks.
DNA results link the Kensington Strangler to the December beating, rape and murder of Casey Mahoney and the November killings of Elaine Goldberg and Nicole Piacentini.
