Man arrested in murder of woman found dead on Valentine's Day in Nassau County

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Friday, March 3, 2023
Man arrested in murder of woman found dead on Valentine's Day on LI
A man was arrested and charged in the Valentine's Day murder of a woman in South Hempstead.

SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, Nassau County (WABC) -- A man was arrested and charged in the Valentine's Day murder of a woman in South Hempstead.

Police say 39-year-old Rebecca Carlson was strangled by 25-year-old Andrew Avila.

Nassau County police say that the two met on a dating website on the day that she was killed.

They apparently agreed to meet and to perform a "sexual act."

Avila allegedly picked Carlson up and while they were in the car an altercation occurred.

After allegedly strangling the victim, police say Avila dumped her body next to a dumpster at Advanced Auto Parts in South Hempstead.

Avila was arrested Thursday and was arraigned in court Friday on a charge of second-degree murder.

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