Arrest made in dragging death of Tempe student

TEMPE, AZ - A man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the dragging death of a woman in Tempe.

Kyleigh Ann Sousa, 21, was killed near the intersection of Apache Boulevard and College Avenue in May after someone reached out of a car and grabbed her purse.

Police said the ASU student was holding onto her purse and the suspect vehicle and was dragged for a short distance before the suspect left the scene. Sousa was transported to a local hospital and later died.

According to police, 20-year-old Joseluis Marquez was arrested in Phoenix Tuesday night in connection with Sousa's death. Marquez was booked for first degree murder.

Marquez made his initial appearance in front of a judge Wednesday and bond was sent at one million dollars.

"She was taken from us by this man," said Karen Montenegro, Kyleigh's mother.

Kyleigh's family lives on the East Coast. They said they are happy for the arrest but say it will never give them closure.

"I feel a deep resentment a deep anger," Montenegro said. "(He) was the last person she ever got to see."

Police said Marquez was the driver of the car involved in the incident.

Wednesday night the suspect's sister and cousin said they were shocked by the arrest.

"I just can't believe it," Maria Hunt said.  "My brother is innocent, it's just not my brother."

Marquez was arrested at an apartment in north Phoenix as his family members watched.

"My cousin is innocent, I know that for a fact," said David Valdez.  "If anything went wrong it had nothing to do with Jose."

According to police paperwork, Marquez rented a 2008 Dodge Charger in California before the murder.

Marquez was identified by a picture taken by a photo radar camera in Tempe after the car matched the description of the one seen at the scene of the crime.

During the course of the investigation police received over 500 tips from the community, which also helped to identify Marquez as a suspect.

County Attorney Bill Montgomery spoke during a Wednesday news conference in Phoenix, saying Sousa's death was "a senseless tragedy."

An assistant county attorney told the judge during the initial appearance in court that Marquez is a flight risk.

"This is an extremely dangerous and violent person," she said.

Montenegro said she appreciates the work detectives did to solve her daughter's case.

"It's been a long six months for all of us," she said.

"I feel like (Kyleigh's) spirit wasn't free, but now she can be free."

Investigators also say they have identified others in the car with Marquez at the time of the crime.

None of those people has been charged, but a person close to the case tells ABC15 there could be more charges filed because it remains an open investigation.