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A woman was brutally murdered in Youngtown last week, her body left bleeding heavily in the middle of Montana Avenue between 111th and 112th avenues.

Youngtown Police and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office personnel searched fruitlessly through much of the morning June 3 for the suspect. He remained at large for 48 hours but was found dead, hanging from a rope from the underpass at Grand Avenue and Thunderbird Road in El Mirage early Friday morning, June 5, according to Deputy Douglas Matteson of MCSO.

The dead suspect was found at about 8:30 a.m. by a commuter, according to Mr. Matteson.

MCSO officials said the suspect, Manuel Julio Alcantar, 35, was considered armed and dangerous following the murder. He had a history of assault and was incarcerated in Arizona Department of Corrections facilities for violent crimes, according to an e-mail sent by Lindsey Smith, MCSO spokeswoman.

Ironically, it was not the only death that day. A Sun City man committed suicide within a mile of the murder scene. The two deaths were not related, but some personnel were briefly diverted to that scene to assist the Sun City Fire Department, which also had units at the murder scene in Youngtown.

Sabrina Alcantar, 32, of Youngtown, died of stab wounds and a possible gunshot wound following the early morning attack June 3 by her husband, Mr. Alcantar. Lt. Duren Robertson, Youngtown Police spokesman, said police received a call at 6:37 a.m. about shots fired and were on the scene within two minutes. However, Ms. Alcantar was found bleeding profusely in the roadway with her sister by her side.

"The sister and another witness were crying over her when our two units arrived," Mr. Robertson said.

Other relatives tried to reach the slain woman but were turned back by police and Sun City Posse members manning the perimeter. Two young men, one claiming to be the victim’s brother, were turned away by Dave Japhet, Sun City Posse commander, at the intersection of Montana and 112th avenues. Mr. Japhet was on his way in to the Posse building when he heard the original call in his Posse vehicle and went directly to the scene.

Youngtown police officials immediately called for assistance from MCSO. Several units were dispatched along with two helicopters to aid in the search for the suspect.

The MCSO SWAT and K9 units were also on the scene, Ms. Smith said during an on-scene press conference. She added the original call to the MCSO dispatch center was about a domestic fight in progress.

MCSO handles the dispatch duties for the Youngtown Police Department.

Sun City Posse personnel were also on scene to help with traffic control as Montana Avenue between 111th and 112th avenues were blocked off, as well as an area around the couple’s home at 11818 N. 113th Ave. At least two Department of Public Safety units were also on the scene assisting with securing the perimeter around the suspect’s home.

"We sent someone over to the (Alcantar) house and found their car with blood in it," Mr. Robertson said.

Acting on information the suspect may be in the home, the MCSO SWAT team and Youngtown officers made a forced entry but did not find the suspect inside.

Mr. Robertson said the suspect chased Ms. Alcantar out of her sister’s house firing at her with a handgun. He then stabbed her multiple times. Mr. Robertson said the stab wounds made it difficult for investigators to immediately determine whether the victim was struck by any of the bullets fired.

Both the handgun and the knife used in the attack were recovered by law enforcement officers.

Mr. Robertson said the couple had lived in Youngtown only a short time, moving to the community from Peoria. He said there were no domestic violence complaints to Youngtown police from their address, however Ms. Alcantar had made a complaint in person the day before she was killed.

"She came to our office and reported he had assaulted her the week before," he explained. "We took a statement, but she had no marks on her at that time to indicate trauma."

During her press conference, Ms. Smith said the couple had a history of domestic problems, but did not elaborate.