Man arrested in Montana for allegedly strangling woman to death in New Orleans

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO ) — The New Orleans Police Department announced the arrest of a man accused in the August death of a woman in New Orleans.

The body of 45-year-old Patricia Fitzgerald was discovered under the wharves near Esplanade Avenue and the Mississippi River on Aug. 19.

A report from the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office identified the cause of death as “blunt force injuries and manual strangulation.” The woman was also discovered by the NOPD with a bitemark on her abdomen.

During the homicide investigation, officers identified 36-year-old Courtney Cantrell as the suspect.

NOPD officers report Cantrell was located and arrested in Poplar, Montana on Monday, Sept. 16. He is currently in the custody of the Fort Peck Tribal Police.

Extradition from Montana to New Orleans is expected to happen pending a hearing.

Anyone with additional information on the homicide can call NOPD Homicide Section detectives at 504-658-5300.

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