Authorities say 63-year-old Victor Mateo was taken into custody in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, by the Pennsylvania State Police and U.S. Marshals Regional Task Force.
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He was extradited back to the Bronx, where he is charged with murder, manslaughter, acting in a manner to injure a child and criminal possession of a weapon.
Fifty-eight-year-old Noelia Mateo was found unconscious with multiple lacerations to her body on Ellsworth Avenue in the Throggs Neck section just after 7 a.m. on Thursday, October 3.
"I heard a loud bang, I actually thought it was a gunshot," witness Dave Colon said. "I looked out my window and I saw a car struck another vehicle. I saw a man moving his car back and forth, and he got out. Then I heard a lady screaming, 'Help her, help her, he's is going to kill her.'...It turns out he was hitting her with a machete, and I saw him take off."
Colon rushed to help Noelia, but it was too late.
"By the time I got down, she was in pretty bad shape and the cops ended up coming," he said. "My heart dropped. Wish I could have done something. I did the best I could do. I called the cops."
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Police believe Victor Mateo crashed his car into the back of a white minivan, then got into Noelia's car and ran her over with it before attacking her with the machete.
Noelia was reportedly stabbed in front of her two young grandchildren.
The suspect then fled the scene. Noelia Mateo was pronounced dead at Jacobi Medical Center.
Detectives identified Victor Mateo as the suspect, and a week-long manhunt began. Authorities said they developed intelligence that indicated Mateo had family in Hazleton, owned rental properties there, and frequented the area.
Surveillance was setup on Mateo's property Thursday, and just after 10 p.m., police observed a 2013 Hyundai Tucson being driven by Mateo arrive at the location. The detectives immediately called for backup and conducted a felony motor vehicle stop as numerous Hazleton detective and patrol units responded to the location.
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Victor Mateo was taken into custody without incident and was placed under arrest.
"The men and women of the Hazleton Police Department are a talented group of individuals truly dedicated to the safety of our city," Mayor Jeff Cusat said. "I am proud of the hard work displayed daily by the men and women of the Hazleton Police Department. "
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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