An Avondale man is in custody in connection with the death of a woman found dead in Old Town Scottsdale earlier this year.
On Feb. 5, 33-year-old Loring Sendejas was found dead behind a business near Camelback and Scottsdale roads.
Sendejas had injuries consistent with being sexually assaulted and her blood alcohol content was 0.28, officials said. She also had fentanyl in her system.
During the investigation, it was discovered Sendejas was last seen Feb. 4 in the downtown Scottsdale Entertainment District with an unknown African-American man.
Authorities also obtained surveillance video from the area where Sendejas was found and saw a white, four-door SUV driving north down an alley where the victim's body was located. The SUV stopped for approximately 35 seconds before leaving.
Investigators were able to trace Sendejas' cellphone to 51-year-old Vincent Parker's home on Feb. 5. It was also learned that Parker owns a white Range Rover and DNA found on Sendejas was determined to be Parker's, authorities said.
Parker was arrested on Tuesday on charges of sexual assault, endangerment and abandonment of a dead body.
The suspect allegedly admitted to officers that he did take Sendejas to his home, but they did not have sexual relations because she "appeared too impaired to consent," police said.
Parker alleges that he was driving the woman back to Scottsdale and she lost consciousness, authorities said. He then allegedly placed her in a stairwell at the rear of a building instead of calling 911.
