New Jersey murder suspect, one of FBI's Most Wanted, arrested in Maryland
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- One of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives, a man wanted for a murder in New Jersey, has been arrested in Maryland.
Authorities said Lamont Stephenson was taken into custody at a traffic stop in Prince Georges County.
Stephenson is accused of killing his girlfriend, Olga DeJesus, and her dog in Newark in October 2014.
The cause of death for DeJesus, as well as the dog, was found to be asphyxiation.
For her family, her loss was crushing. "We are just overwhelmed right now," said the victim's brother Felix DeJesus. "We're happy. Everyone played a role in this and we are grateful."
Additionally, Stephenson is a suspect in a murder in Washington D.C. that happened Wednesday night, which involved the murders of a woman and her cat.
Arriving officers located an adult female victim, identified as 40-year-old Natina Kiah, suffering from a stab wound. Stephenson allegedly also stabbed the victim's cat.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Stephenson was caught on security cameras fleeing the area, presumably heading toward relatives in Virginia and the Carolinas.
He was arrested on the 7900 block of Annapolis Road in Lanham around 2 a.m. by officers investigating a suspicious vehicle.
"We said the world becomes a very small place and we warned Mr. Stephenson that he will be found," said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie.
Stephenson was held on a fugitive warrant from New Jersey and has since been identified as the suspect in the separate murder, which happened on the 5000 block of D Street SE around 8:30 p.m.
In prior documents, Stephenson was said to have relatives in New Jersey, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. He was last reported seen in or around Myrtle Beach in July 2017.
Stephenson was added to the Most Wanted list last October.
While justice would take considerable time for the DeJesus family, who joined the arrest announcement, it would finally tip in their favor.
"For four years I emailed the prosecutor's office," said Felix DeJesus. "I communicated with everyone there, the FBI, the Newark PD, everybody, and this was the result. And we are grateful for it."
Stephenson will be extradited to Newark sometime in the coming days and then face charges by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
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