Man Arrested In Killing Of Girl, 3, Suspected In Another Attack

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man suspected of fatally stabbing the 3-year-old daughter of a co-worker at a downtown Los Angeles garment factory has been linked to an attack on a woman, police said Wednesday.

Ricardo Augusto Utuy, 34, stabbed Ruby Vasquez of Los Angeles as the toddler visited her mother at work around 5:15 p.m. Monday, Los Angeles Police Department Detective Moses Castillo said.

Ruby was standing next to her mother when she was stabbed.

She was driven from the scene in a private vehicle, which was met by an ambulance that took the girl to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Castillo said.

Utuy, a Guatemalan national, fled but later surrendered to police and was booked early Tuesday on suspicion of murder, Castillo said.

"After seeing Utuy's photograph (in news reports), an additional victim came forward and provided a statement to detectives linking him to (an) unrelated crime," according to an LAPD statement.

Castillo said the woman in that case was attacked earlier this year.

Both cases will be submitted Thursday to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Castillo said.

"The extensive investigations into both crimes have led detectives to believe that there may be an additional victim; a male (adult) by the name of Alex," who lives or lived in the Los Angeles area, Castillo said.

"Detectives are asking for the public's assistance and ask that if anyone recognizes Utuy to please come forward."