Waukesha — The 21-year-old woman who was found dead in a car on Saturday night had been stabbed a number of times, Waukesha police said.
Police on Tuesday identified the victim as Samantha L. Peterson of Waukesha. Friends and neighbors on Sunday had told news reporters that Peterson was the homicide victim.
Authorities believe Peterson was killed by a 29-year-old man with whom Peterson had a prior relationship, according to police Capt. Mark Stigler.
The suspect was arrested at a hotel in the 10000 block of W. Appleton Ave. in Milwaukee about 6 a.m. Sunday, Stigler said in a news release.
He tried to escape through a back window at the hotel, but was taken into custody by Milwaukee Police at gun point, Stigler said.
Police are asking the Waukesha County District Attorney's office to file a first-degree reckless homicide charge against the man.
Peterson was found about 11 p.m. Saturday in a car parked at the intersection of West Ave. and Wood St. after someone called 911.
She is believed to have died at that location, Stigler said.
At the crime scene, a number of people have placed signs, flowers, stuffed animals and candles along Wood St. as a memorial to Peterson.
One sign says 'Gone too soon' and has a rosary attached to it.
A card in a bouquet of flowers says, 'Sam will always be in my heart. I miss and love her dearly. I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to the Peterson family.' The card is signed by Kristen Hausen.
On Tuesday just before noon, a police officer was in the neighborhood speaking with a woman who lives a few houses down from where the memorial was erected.
Some news reports said Peterson was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, but a university spokeswoman said Tuesday that Peterson last attended the university in the spring of 2007.
The 29-year-old man arrested in connection with the killing has a criminal record, according to police and online court records.
He was convicted in 2003 of child abuse-intentionally causing harm and carrying a concealed weapon in connection with an incident in which he beat a teenager and used a knife to threaten a man who came to the boy's aid, according to court records.