Denisse Oleas-Arancibia: Autopsy reveals 38-year-old mom found dead in NYC hotel was strangled, beaten

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

NEW YORK: Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, a 38-year-old mother, was discovered dead in a New York City hotel room, her life brutally taken through strangulation and beating, according to the findings of a recent autopsy.

The grim discovery was made by hotel staff at SoHo 54 Hotel around 10.30 am on Thursday, February 8, with her death being provisionally ruled as a homicide.

What was the cause of Denisse Oleas-Arancibia's death?

Authorities found her unconscious and unresponsive, and despite the efforts of emergency medical services, she was pronounced dead at the scene. A bloody iron was found near her body, though there were no signs of forced entry into the hotel room.

The spokesperson for the city medical examiner disclosed that Oleas-Arancibia's cause of death was compression to her neck and blunt head trauma, as per Daily Mail.

Edwin Cevallos recounts last moments with his mother

Oleas-Arancibia's son, 18-year-old Edwin Cevallos, spoke to his mother just one day before her tragic demise. He revealed that he had noticed changes in her demeanor a week before the incident, stating, "She was so nervous and she was worried."

The mother and son had been residing in an apartment in Queens, along with Oleas-Arancibia's nephew. Originally from Ecuador, she came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind family, including another son.

Cevallos, who joined his mother in the US two years ago, spoke of her tireless work ethic, emphasizing, "My mom, she worked very hard, always working for us to give us the best life in this country." While he was unaware of her specific occupation, he highlighted her dedication to providing a better life for her children, stating that she was "a very good person" who was "always helping people" and "never hurt anybody."

Law enforcement hunt for Denisse Oleas-Arancibia's suspect

The grief-stricken teen described his last moments with his mother on Wednesday morning, remembering her love and care as she cooked him breakfast and paid for his haircut. The last words Oleas-Arancibia told her son was she loved him as Cevallos left for school.

As detectives filed into the Manhattan hotel on Thursday morning, it startled guests who were there for New York Fashion Week. SoHo 45, formerly known as the Hampton Inn, is currently cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation, and no arrests have been made thus far.