Man arrested after woman found dead inside Phoenix home

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Police have arrested a suspect after a woman was found dead inside a Phoenix home on Tuesday afternoon. On Thursday, authorities announced 53-year-old Erik Islas was taken into custody for the murder of 59-year-old Patricia Hawking.

Just before 2 p.m., officers were called to a home near 16th Street and Bethany Home Road. Police arrived and found Hawking dead inside the house. Investigators say she had “obvious signs of trauma,” but didn’t specify her injuries.

Homicide detectives are working to find out what led up to Hawking’s death. According to Phoenix Police, the two were in a “tumultuous on and off again relationship.”

Investigators haven’t said where Islas was found. The investigation is ongoing.

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