PALM BAY, Fla. — An arrest has been made in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found in the trunk of a car earlier this week.
Authorities searched a home in Palm Bay Thursday that was the possible last known residence of Jillian Christine Kusznir, 22.%
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Kusznir was found dead inside her mother’s car on Tuesday, investigators said.
Construction workers nearby discovered the body.
Stephen Warrington, 25, was taken into custody near the home and was later placed under arrest on a charge of first-degree murder
Police said in a news conference Thursday night that investigators were able to tie evidence of the crime back to the suspect’s Palm Bay home.
“A large quantity of evidence was discovered in the house that leads us to believe Jillian was killed at that location,” said Commander John Resh of the Palm Bay Police Department.
Officers are still trying to find a motive for Kusznir’s killing.
“It’s a sickening crime and we need to find that out,” said Resh. “That’s the duty that we owe Jillian and her family right now.”
Resh said the suspect and victim knew each other, but couldn’t specify their relationship.
During an earlier news conference, Resh said the Palm Bay Police Department is working to “bring those persons (responsible) to justice as quickly as we can.”
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home on Van Loon Avenue.
Police said they found a number of items that may have some value to the investigation.
“We want the killer or killers brought to justice for Jillian and her family,” said Resh.
Police said they were looking for hair, bodily fluid, blood or any other potential evidence linked to the homicide investigation.
Officers said the homeowners, a man and a woman, are cooperating with authorities.
“We will not stop, I promised Jillian's family, until we find out who did this,” said Resh.
Channel 9 spoke with a person, who did not want to give a name, who said he spoke with the victim around 4:17 p.m. on Monday. He said they planned to meet, but Kusznir never showed.