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Man held in disappearance of N.Y. woman

Detectives on Tuesday arrested a man suspected of killing a New York woman who has been missing for more than seven months, authorities said.
Stepha Henry
Stepha Henry is seen in an undated photo.Miami-Dade Police Dept. via AP
/ Source: The Associated Press

Detectives on Tuesday arrested a man suspected of killing a New York woman who has been missing for more than seven months, authorities said.

Kendrick Williams, 32, was arrested in New York City after forensic tests on his car linked him to the victim, police said.

Williams was expected to be charged with second-degree murder in the death of Stepha Henry, who disappeared in May, authorities said. No body has been found.

No details are being released on the exact nature of the evidence found in the car, Miami-Dade police spokesman Robert Williams said.

Henry, who would have turned 23 in September, and her 16-year-old sister, Shola, came to Florida just before Memorial Day to celebrate Shola's birthday. They stayed with relatives, who last saw Henry on May 29 getting into a black sedan driven by a man.

That night, Henry had talked to her mother by phone, telling her she was getting ready to go to a nightclub. Her family has said she had made friends in South Florida during numerous visits to the area.

Miami-Dade police spokesman Mario Rachid said Henry and Williams were acquaintances, but it was unclear how they met. Police also were unclear on where Williams made his permanent home.

Miami detectives were in New York interviewing Williams, Miami-Dade police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said.

"This investigation is far from over," Zabaleta said.

During the investigation, Williams told detectives he had left the club early but Henry decided to stay, officers said.

There was no immediate indication when Williams would be transferred to Florida.