Los Angeles Police Department North Hollywood Area Homicide detectives made an arrest Tuesday afternoon in the stabbing death of a woman whose body was discovered in a valley park earlier that morning.The victim, 32-year-old Patrina Sabella of Rosamond, was discovered at about 2:20 a.m. at the baseball field at South Weddington Park. Initially authorities suspected the victim was a transient. Sabella had suffered multiple stab wounds, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives used information gathered via "an exhaustive investigation of the crime scene, community input, and witness statements," explains the LAPD. That information led them to neighboring Burbank, where they arrested 26-year-old Stephen Joanou Jr. for Sabella's murder.
Joanou was booked in the LAPD Valley Jail and is being held on $1 million bail.
The exact cause and manner of Sabella's death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the LAPD North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4075.
