A man arrested last month in connection with a slaying and a sexual assault in July has been charged in another killing, authorities said.
Apollo K. Ortega is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Norma Jean Conner, 52, who was found dead in her home in July, said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a Tucson police spokesman.
Ortega originally was arrested Oct. 22 in connection with the slaying of 57-year-old Magnolia Ortiz on July 16, and the sexual assault and beating of a 37-year-old woman July 10.
After he was arrested, he admitted to killing Conner, who was found dead July 28 by relatives in the 2400 block of South Mission Road, Robinson said.
An autopsy was inconclusive and the cause of Conner's death had been classified as unknown, he said.
Her body was found in an advanced state of decomposition and there were no obvious signs of physical trauma, he said.
However, officers became suspicious after they found her house in disarray, and called homicide detectives to investigate, he said.
Ortega, 23, is in the Pima County jail. He is facing another murder charge in connection with Ortiz's slaying, as well as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sexual assault charges.
In the July incidents, officers found the 37-year-old woman in the 900 block of South Sixth Avenue suffering from stab wounds.
The woman also had been sexually assaulted and beaten, police said previously.
Less than a week later, two teenagers discovered Ortiz's body in a culvert near Palo Verde Road and South Alvernon Way while they were skateboarding.
Ortega was arrested in connection with those crimes after police matched his DNA with DNA from the Ortiz slaying and the assault..
His DNA was taken in August after his arrest in connection with a public indecency incident, police said previously.
