Destiny Duckett, 22, was found dead in her Market Square Apartment residence on Monday, Feb. 13, Pottsville police have said in a statement. Her manner of death was later ruled a homicide by manner of strangulation, they added.
Detectives and forensic experts analyzed evidence at the scene as well as surveillance video and eyewitness accounts.
The investigation led them to 22-year-old Jared Rahim Abdul-Ali, who was already locked up at the Schuylkill County jail on unrelated charges when he was interviewed by police, officials said.
During that conversation, authorities claim Abdul-Ali confessed to Duckett's killing and "provided specific details" about the attack that had not been made public.
He's been charged with third-degree murder, aggravated assault, strangulation, and endangering the welfare of a child, Pottsville police said. Abdul-Ali's bail was denied at arraignment on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and he will return to court on March 3 for a preliminary hearing, state court records show.
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