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By Lookout Staff

July 2 -- A homeless man wanted for the rape and murder of an 81-year-old woman in Arizona was arrested by Santa Monica police when he was caught trespassing on residential property Tuesday morning.

John Vincent Nitzke, 48, was picked up by police who responded to a trespassing call at a private residence at around midnight. Nitzke was taken into custody before he could make his way inside the home.

Santa Monica police determined Nitzke was wanted for first-degree murder and sexual assault in the slaying of Dorothy "Betty" Carras in Tucson Arizona on May 22.

Carras, who lived in Tucson for almost 20 years, was strangled or suffocated by her killer, who broke into her home, authorities said. She also was sexually assaulted.

Carras’ body was found the following morning by a friend who went to her home to meet her for a walk, authorities said. When Carras didn't answer the door, the friend used a spare key to enter and found Carras dead.

Carras’ corpse displayed “obvious signs of trauma,” according to Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Dawn Hanke. An autopsy later revealed the victim died of strangulation.

Carras, who lived alone, served as a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity and a local food pantry, as a nurse and caregiver to the sick and elderly, and as a docent at Tohono Chul Park, according to reports in the Arizona press.

Nitzke was tied to the case through DNA evidence found in the victim’s home that allegedly linked him to the attack, authorities said. A warrant was issued for his arrest last week.

Homicide detectives from the Pima County Sheriff's Department arrived in Santa Monica and are awaiting an extradition hearing, said Deputy Dawn Hanke, an agency spokeswoman.

Investigators have not revealed how Carras’ killer entered her home or what motive there might have been for her murder.