ST. PAUL, Minn. - The sister of a woman found dead in St. Paul Monday morning says she'll remember her family member as a strong-willed, loving person.
Krystal Hollins identified her sister, Shana Hollins, as the woman found dead by police in what they're calling a suspicious death near the city's east side.
Police were called to a residence in the 1500 block of East Jessamine Lane around 7 a.m. Monday.
They arrived to find a woman dead. While there, officers were told a teen girl had been sexually assaulted in the home.
Steve Linders of the St. Paul Police Department called the case "horrific."
"One of the most disturbing and heartbreaking scenes we’ve seen in a while," he said.
Linders said homicide investigators processed the scene and interviewed potential witnesses. They were able to identify a suspect who was known to both victims.
That suspect, a 33-year-old man from East St. Louis, Illinois, was located in downtown St. Paul around noon and arrested without incident. He's is being held in the Ramsey County Jail on pending charges of kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct. Those charges are both related to the assault of the juvenile, Linders said.
The Medical Examiner's Office has completed an autopsy of Shana Hollins, but Linders said more tests need to be done before they can determine the cause of death.
Krystal says Shana was "always there for everybody."
"If you didn't know her, you missed an impact. To know her was so great. She was caring. She loved her kids. She provided to the best of her ability," Shana said during a news conference Tuesday. "My sister did not deserve to be murdered."
Shana leaves behind three children.
