Person Of Interest In Custody In Murder Of Center City Doctor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police sources tell CBS Philly that a person of interest was taken into custody Wednesday evening in connection with the murder of a Center City doctor.
Sources say an unidentified male was arrested in Levittown, Bucks County and was brought to Philadelphia police headquarters, where he was being held for questioning in the death of 35-year-old Dr. Melissa Ketunuti.
Surveillance video from the victim's neighborhood provided detectives with leads that ultimately led to the person of interest being taken into custody, but police stress the investigation is ongoing and say they have not named any suspects in the case.
Ketunuti worked as a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Her body was found bound and burned by her dog walker in the basement of her Naudain Street apartment Monday afternoon (see related story).
Investigators say the cause of death was likely strangulation: a rope had been found around her neck. Investigators also say Ketunuti's wrists and ankles were tied behind her back.
News of the person of interest came just hours after officials announced the reward in the case had been raised to $35,000 (see related story).
Police executed a search warrant late Wednesday night on the subject's home along Crescent Lane in Levittown.
