Arrest Made in Death of Woman Who Was Stuffed in Suitcase

An arrest has been made in the death of a woman whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase last January in New Jersey.

Steven Stallworth, 27, of Pleasantville was arrested Tuesday morning and charged in the death of 30-year-old Tara Rogers Alicea of Monroeville.

On January 5, around 1:30 p.m., Alicea's remains were discovered by Margate Police Sgt. Mark Ciambrone who was off-duty at the time.

Ciambrone found the body in a wooded area near 9th and Broadway Avenue behind the Shore Mall along Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

Police found tattoos on the woman's right wrist and right foot and later released photos of the tattoos. Investigators identified the woman as Alicea two days later.

The NJ Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a homicide by asphyxiation with strangulation.

An investigation that spanned several months led authorities to Stallworth, who was arrested in Mays Landing around 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday.

Stallworth is charged with murder and desecration of human remains. His bail has been set at $2,000,000 cash/full.

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