Police ID suspect in murder; dragnet is out looking for him

POUGHKEEPSIE -- City of Poughkeepsie police have identified a suspect in the weekend murder of a local woman, and are asking the public for help in locating the man.

City detectives are looking for 25-year-old Honduran immigrant Oscar Romero, and believe he has fled the area, and should be considered armed and dangerous. The police believe he murdered 48-year-old Poughkeepsie resident Janice Williams early Saturday morning.

They recovered a knife at the scene, but have no motive for the homicide.

Police said the man does have family in the Hudson Valley, but have left it up to State Police to identify the whereabouts of other family outside of the region.

Detective Sgt. Matthew Clark said Romero was identified by several suspects during the weekend-long investigation at the building located at 691 Main Street, where Williams was stabbed repeatedly, then thrown from a third floor window, which has been identified by police as one from Romero’s apartment.

“He’s wanted for murder so he should be considered armed and dangerous, and call the police if they see him of know where he may be,” he said.

Police are asking that any information regarding Romero’s whereabouts be called in to the department hotline at (845) 451-7577.