A 38-year-old woman was found dead in a SoHo hotel room last week, next to a bloody iron and a pair of pants with a receipt in them. The victim, identified as Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, a mother of two from Queens, had been strangled and beaten, according to the autopsy report.
Her death has been ruled a homicide, but no arrests have been made so far. Who killed Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, and why? This is the mystery that haunts her family, friends, and the public.
A Tragic Discovery
Denisse Oleas-Arancibia had been staying at the SoHo 54 Hotel, a four-star hotel in Lower Manhattan, for several days before she was killed. She had checked in on February 5, 2024, and paid for her room in cash, according to the hotel staff. She did not have any visitors or luggage, and she kept to herself, rarely leaving her room.
On February 8, 2024, around 10:30 a.m., a hotel maid knocked on her door, but got no answer. She entered the room and found a horrifying scene: Oleas-Arancibia’s body was lying on the floor, under a blanket, with blood stains on the carpet. Next to her, there was an iron with blood on it, and a pair of men’s pants with a receipt from a nearby liquor store in the pocket. The maid immediately called 911 and alerted the hotel manager.
The police arrived and secured the crime scene. They found no signs of forced entry or struggle, and no weapons other than the iron. They also found Oleas-Arancibia’s phone, wallet, and ID, but no clues to her killer’s identity or motive. They took the iron, the pants, and the receipt as evidence, and sent the body to the medical examiner’s office.
Woman found dead in SoHo hotel, police suspect murderhttps://t.co/eTkrOpPWTK pic.twitter.com/LrsweEcvEg
— 1010 WINS (@1010WINS) February 8, 2024
Denisse Oleas-Arancibia’s Obituary – A Loving Mother
Oleas-Arancibia was a loving mother of two sons, aged 18 and 12, who lived with her in Jackson Heights, Queens. She had moved to New York from Ecuador about 10 years ago, hoping to provide a better life for her children. She worked as a housekeeper and a nanny, and sent money to her parents and younger son, who stayed in Ecuador. She was described by her family and friends as a hardworking, caring, and cheerful person, who always had a smile on her face.
“She was always working for us to give us the best life in this country. She always had money to cover anything in the house,” her eldest son, Edwin Cevallos, told the Daily News. “She was so happy. She loved her kids. She loved her family.”
Cevallos said his mother had been acting strangely in the week before her death. She seemed sad, nervous, and worried, and did not tell him where she was going or why she was staying at the hotel. He said he tried to call her several times, but she did not answer. He said he did not know who the pants or the receipt belonged to, or if his mother had a boyfriend or an enemy.
“I don’t know who did this to her. I don’t know why. She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t have any problems with anyone. She was a good person,” he said.
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A Mysterious Killer
The police are investigating the homicide, but have not released any information on the suspect or the motive. They are reviewing the hotel’s security footage, interviewing the staff and the guests, and tracing the origin of the pants and the receipt. They are also looking into Oleas-Arancibia’s background, her social media accounts, her phone records, and her financial transactions, hoping to find any leads or connections to her killer.
The police are asking anyone with information on the case to contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com. Tips can also be sent via direct message on Twitter to @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are confidential.
The murder of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia has shocked and saddened the community, especially the Ecuadorian immigrants who knew her. They are demanding justice for her and her family, and are hoping that the police will catch the killer soon.
“She was a good woman, a good mother, a good friend. She didn’t deserve to die like this. She deserved to live and be happy,” said Maria Lopez, a friend of Oleas-Arancibia. “We want to know who did this, and why. We want them to pay for what they did. We want justice for Denisse.”
