Deputies Make Arrest But Don't Find Link To Murdered Jogger

Detectives made an arrest in a 2007 rape case that happened in the area where 26-year-old Nicole Ganguzza was found murdered. But they don't think he's the man who killed her.

"Even though we have this person in custody we have no evidence linking him to this case right now," said Sgt. Rich Mankewich of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

VIDEO: Jogger's Family Speaks SLIDESHOW: Images From Scene Of Search For WomanCOMPOSITE SKETCH: Investigators Believe Suspect May Be Serial Rapist

Detectives are trying to figure out of Clemente Garcia is linked to a serial rapist that roamed east Orlando.

"It's going to come down to forensics in this case," said Mankewich. "We'll gather DNA samples from the east side rapist and jogger cases and compare them to this guy now."

In the meantime, the investigation continues in the Ganguzza case.

Detectives say rape may have been the motive for the murder of the UCF graduate Ganguzza was grabbed Tuesday night between 6:00pm and 7:00pm while she was jogging on a trail in Blachard Park ((see map).

Investigators believe she was all alone when she was dragged into the woods and murdered. Sources said investigators have received a lot of tips that homeless people have been seen in out of the woods that border the paved jogging trail along the Econ River.

Thursday evening, her husband of 15 months spoke about his wife.

"I just don't know what to say. I lost my heart. I love her so much," said Brendan Ganguzza. "She just wanted to help people."

Detectives are looking for any piece of evidence they can find in the wooded areas. They want to know if any homeless people were in the area and that's why they spent most of Thursday visiting transient camps.

Emergency response team members used machetes to cut through the brush in hopes of finding possible evidence. Deputies said they haven't found a lot of items, but they did find a black baseball cap and the back of a cell phone charger. Detectives say they have no witnesses and believe everything they find is possible evidence.

Nicole Ganguzza was last seen around 6:00pm on Tuesday. She was jogging through Blanched Park from Dean Road to Econlockhatchee Road. Deputies said when they found her body it was an extremely disturbing scene. Investigators said they were not revealing details about her death in order to protect the investigation.

"This is a loss to so many people," said Ganguzza's mother, Eileen Alexander. "She's touched so many lives and so many people are hurting right now, I don't want anyone else to go through this right now."

Investigators believe the suspect's motive may have been sexual assault. She was pulled from the trail and dragged into the woods. Sources said her body was found off the trail near the shoe bend before the bridge.

"He's somebody who is really familiar with this area. We feel this is someone that is familiar with this park, who has frequented that location and has possibly even staked out this area," said Sgt. Allen Lee of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Sex crimes detectives believe Ganguzza's murder may be related to the east-side serial rapist. They are visiting all the homeless camps near the area, as well as checking with sex offenders within a 5-mile radius.

Deputies are canvassing the area to see if any regulars who visit the park regularly may have seen something on Tuesday night.

In the meantime, Blanchard Park remains open. Joggers and walkers are using the same track where Ganguzza disappeared, Tuesday night.

However, one walker said, "I don't go there because three are so many woods there."

VICTIM FREQUENTED AREA

Missing Woman Nicole Ganguzza 061108 Nicole Ganguzza

Ganguzza disappeared after telling her family she was taking her usual jog around the park. When she didn't pick up her phone around 7:00pm Tuesday, her family became worried and called the sheriff's office. Deputies spent Wednesday searching with dogs, ATVs, and airboats. The body was found about two miles from the original search scene in Blanchard Park.

Ganguzza was working toward a master's degree in marriage and family therapy at the University of Central Florida. She was a counselor.

"When it came to my marriage, my children… she kept me going," said former client Jessica Gallo. "My prayers are with her family. I know she wasn't a member of my family but I feel like she was."

"Our UCF family mourns the senseless death of one of our own. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Nicole's family, friends and classmates. We urge anyone who believes they have useful information to contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office immediately," said Grant Heston, a UCF spokesman.

POSSIBLE LINK TO SERIAL RAPIST

Orange County detectives say this case may be linked to two other sexual assaults cases in 2006 and 2007. There are similarities in all three cases.

Composite Rape Suspect 011507 In October 2006, a man attacked a wife of a police officer during her morning jog. The 32-year-old was saved after a passerby saw what was happening and stepped in. Then, in January 2007, another woman was jogging on Dean Road near Rivers Trail. The suspected leaped out and tried to rape her, but she fought back, poked him in the eyes and got away.

Detectives even released a composite sketch hoping to find clues. They got a DNA sample, but they weren't able to name a suspect because there were no matches in the DNA database. The sex crime team is out checking every sex offender within a five mile radius and said they are trying to eliminate as many people as possible.

The UCF Counseling Center said they were ready to assist members of the UCF community who would like to speak with a counselor. The center is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Mondays through Friday. They can be reacehd at 407-823-2811 for more information.

Previous Stories: January 16, 2007: Possible Serial Rapist Targeting East Orange Co. Women January 16, 2007: Orange County Detectives Searching For Serial Rapist