NEW YORK – Prosecutors in Arizona are currently refusing to extradite the man accused of murdering a woman in SoHo to New York, citing concerns about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Raad Almansoori, who is currently in custody in Arizona for stabbing two women, is wanted by the Manhattan DA to face charges for the SoHo murder, but Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is resistant to the extradition.
Mitchell expressed her intentions at a news conference, stating, “I just want to say that I know there’s been discussion about New York wanting to extradite this individual. And I’m sure that this is not aimed at the New York Police Department at all, I know they did a hard job, and they did a good job. But we will not be agreeing to extradition. I’ve instructed my extradition attorneys not to agree to that.”
The refusal to extradite has sparked controversy, with a spokesperson from the Manhattan District Attorney, Emily Tuttle, calling Mitchell’s comments “deeply disturbing” and accused her of “playing political games in a murder investigation.”
Arizona police have stated that Almansoori admitted to killing someone in New York earlier this month. The NYPD also believes that Almansoori attacked and killed Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, with an iron at a SoHo hotel.
In addition to the murder in New York, Almansoori is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Florida in April. One witness, Leah Palian, shared a terrifying account of the assault, stating, “This man had the tightest grip on my neck, right under my chin, cut off the airway immediately. Knew what he was doing.” Almansoori was subsequently arrested and charged in Florida, but Palian expressed frustration with the outcome, stating, “The state of Florida has failed me so badly.”
Despite the resistance from Arizona, Mitchell stated that New York can file for extradition, but she prefers to proceed first. Meanwhile, the NYPD is investigating any potential connections Almansoori may have to other crimes, and the FBI is assisting in the investigation.
The case continues to unfold, with legal battles and concerns emerging in multiple states as authorities seek to hold Almansoori accountable for the string of violent offenses attributed to him.