KITZMILLER — A South Dakota man was arrested Tuesday in Pennsylvania, several hours after he allegedly shot a woman to death and set her home on fire.
Nikolas Patrick James, 46, of Sioux Falls, was being held in Pittsburgh after his arrest by police there, the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office said. He was awaiting extradition back to Maryland.
The fire was reported on East Main Street just after 5:30 a.m. According to the sheriff’s office, firefighters discovered Juanita Katherine James in the back of the residence with a fatal gunshot wound.
The relationship between Juanita James and Nikolas James was not immediately known.
Authorities quickly identified Nikolas James as a suspect, posting his photo and the 2023 Chrysler Pacifica he was believed to be driving on social media and launching a regional manhunt.
Detectives were assisted by the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Maryland State Police and Pittsburgh Police.
“… the successful closure to this case was the result of a collaborative effort between multiple police agencies and jurisdictions,” Garrett County Sheriff Bryson Meyers said. “The hard work and dedication of the detectives and officers involved helped bring this case to a successful and quick closure.”