Neighbor Charged In Strangling Death Of Schaumburg Woman

SCHAUMBURG, IL — The neighbor of a 33-year-old woman who was found strangled to death in her Schaumburg home Easter has been arrested in connection with her killing. Bulmaro Mejia-Maya, 29, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion, according to reports. He was arrested Wednesday in Jacksonville, Florida, ABC 7 Eyewitness News reports.

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According to police, Thrasher was found dead in her home in the 2600 block of Clipper Drive on Sunday, April 16, after she missed Easter morning church services. Officers conducted a well-being check after friends who were concered over her absence from church contacted police. Thrasher's body was found inside the apartment, and her death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy determined she had been strangeled, the Daily Herald reports.

Thrasher likely was killed some time between coming home from dinner with friends at around 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15, and 11:45 a.m. Sunday, police said. Investigators believe her killer possibly entered the victim's apartment through an unlocked ground-floor window.

On Wednesday night, Schaumburg detectives traveled to Jacksonville to interrogate Mejia-Maya, who police said "made incriminating statements" during the interview, according to the Herald. Investigators still don't know if Thrasher and Mejia-Maya had known each other before the murder, the report added. An extradition hearing for Mejia-Maya is set for Thursday afternoon in Jacksonville.

RELATED: Woman Found Strangled In Schaumburg Apartment

Mejia-Maya has an active warrant for his arrest for failure to appear in court followng an arrest on a misdemeanor drug charge last year in Murray City, Utah, according to the Herald. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery in Volusia County Florida, the report stated. He was originally charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after he was accused of a stabbing a man. At the time, Mejia-Maya claimed he was attacked first and that the victim stabbed himself during a scuffle, the report added.

Earlier this week, Thrasher's sister, Misty King, started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for "a memorial service that will celebrate [Thrasher's] life that was taken so early." Because the investigation is still ongoing, King said she doesn't know if Thrasher had insurance to cover funeral and memorial expenses. But the victim's family doesn't "want to leave our Tiffany waiting in an unknown place on this earth," King wrote on the fundraising page.

"We know her soul has found eternal peace but she deserves to be honored in this transition," she wrote on the site.

RELATED: Strangling Suspect In Custody In Schaumburg Woman's Murder

So far, the fundraising campaign has earned more than $7,700 toward a goal of $9,200. The campaign has two more days remaining.

"We are at a complete loss," King wrote. "Tiffany was a loving, happy young lady whom had overcome so much in her life. She found her one true love in Jesus, she loved her church, her family, her canine children and her Chicago Cubs."

Go to the GoFundMe page for Tiffany Thrasher to donate to her memorial service.

WATCH: Schaumburg police hold a press conference about the arrest of a suspect in connection with the strangulation death of Tiffany Thrasher:

Patch will continue to update this story

More via ABC 7 Eyewitness News and the Daily Herald

UPDATED (2:08 p.m. Thursday, April 20)

Tiffany Thrasher (photo via GoFundMe)

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