NEED TO KNOW
- Rexal Ford, a 46-year-old American, was arrested in Greece on suspicion of killing a 30-year-old mother and her baby
- Surveillance footage, witness testimony and fingerprints led authorities to Ford
- Prosecutors believe the deaths were a double murder, and Ford is awaiting an extradition hearing in Greece as the investigation continues
Greek authorities arrested an American man on Friday on suspicion of killing a 30-year-old mother and her baby whose bodies were found by police at a park in Italy.
The 46-year-old man, identified as Rexal Ford, was detained on an arrest warrant issued in Italy, citing “strong evidence” of his alleged involvement in the death of the baby girl and her mother — who are also believed to be American — Italian news outlets, L’Unione Sarda, Il Messaggero and Corriere della Sera reported, citing prosecutors.
The bodies of the mother and baby were found in Rome’s Villa Pamphili park on Saturday, the local outlets reported. Both were found naked and without any identification.
Investigators in Italy told CBS News that the cause of the woman’s death was unknown, “but there is a reasonable suspicion that it is a double murder,” Deputy Prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini said to the outlet.
According to Rome Chief Prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, the mother was killed several days before the baby and was found several hundred meters away. The mother was found under a black bag, Lo Voi said to the local outlets.
“It is not exactly understandable that someone who was with a woman and a baby girl, once the woman and the girl died, whom he carried in his arms, would then leave the country without calling for help, without seeking assistance,” Lo Voi said, per CBS News. “In itself, that doesn’t look good.”
Video surveillance and witness reports showed that the three were spotted together on several occasions, sometimes speaking in English, Corriere della Sera reported. At one point, Ford and the woman were seen arguing in the street, and police took down his information, which later led to his arrest.
Police discovered the identities of the woman, her baby and Ford, by cross-referencing footage of them seen at a soup kitchen nearby the Vatican and testimonies of witnesses who were in the park along with homeless people nearby, the Italian outlet reported.
Authorities were able to track Ford down due to fingerprints left on the bag covering the mother when she was found dead by police, CBS reported. He was found on the Greek island of Skiathos through cellphone data.
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According to Corriere della Sera, authorities found the baby’s pink dress in a trash can nearby where their bodies were found. Police estimate that the baby was around 6 to 8 months old.
The mother had a tattoo of a skeleton with a surfboard that seemed to have the colors of the Lithuanian flag, the Italian outlet reported. Forensic teams also found a total of 40 items at the scene, including a bra and sleeping bag.
When Ford’s warrant is forwarded to Greek officials, he will appear in court for an extradition hearing, the local outlets said, citing Greek police.
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