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Report: Confession made in death of woman found in duffel bag

PHILADELPHIA - A person of interest in police custody in connection with the murder of a 23-year-old woman whose body was found in a duffle bag in Philadelphia has allegedly confessed to his role in the killing, reports CBS Philly.

Laura Araujo, a 23-year-old recent college graduate, was found in a duffel bag next to a vacant home in the northeast section of the city on Monday with her hands and feet bound. Her belongings were found strewn near her body and her vehicle was found torched miles away, authorities say.

Police say they believe the young woman was killed four to eight hours before her body was found.

CBS Philly reports that according to investigators, Araujo had recently moved into the same building as the suspect.

Police sources tell the station that Araujo was killed after she interrupted the suspect as he was stealing items from her room.

Sources tell the station that the man being questioned confessed that he beat and strangled Araujo.

Sources also tell the station that the man admitted to dumping the victim's body.

The man was reportedly identified as a person of interest in the case after he went to a local hospital to be treated for burns that they believe he sustained while torching Araujo's car.

Authorities say they plan to charge the man, whose name has not been released, on Wednesday.

Araujo graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia in December 2013 and had recently obtained a job at a Philadelphia-area hotel, investigators say.

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