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PD: Woman found dead at Phoenix barber shop; man arrested in connection

Posted at 11:43 AM, Jun 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-19 10:30:21-04

Police are investigating the discovery of a woman's body, with "cutting" injuries, inside a beauty and barbershop in Phoenix.

Super Imagen Beauty and Barber Shop is located at Camelback Road and 35th Avenue. 

Police say someone noticed the shop door open when the business was supposed to be closed just after 10 a.m. Friday. That person discovered the body of Maria Rivera, 48, and called 911. 

"We have several witnesses that are involved, but we have no one who it is reporting that they actually saw what took place in the barbershop," said Officer James Holmes.

Officers were just minutes into their investigation when they received a 911 call from a man in Cielito Park, two blocks south of Super Imagen. Police say the man said he was injured and admitted to being at the shop. Police identified him as Jose Rubio Figueroa, 52. He had the woman's 2014 Toyota Camry on him. 

"There is a relationship between the person at the park and the deceased victim in this strip mall," Holmes said. "I can't expound what that relationship is, but they are related."

Police believe the man was involved in an altercation with the woman and attacked her with a knife, causing her death before fleeing in her vehicle. 

Figueroa faces charges of 1st degree murder.