TOLLESON, AZ – A young Arizona woman who recently left foster care was killed after meeting a man she connected with on a dating app, authorities said, launching a multi-state search for a suspect who was tracked down and arrested in Mississippi.

Yessenia Norman, 18, was reported missing on Jan. 19 after she left a local transitional housing facility, telling friends she planned to meet someone for a date. Friends became concerned after several days with no contact, prompting them to notify authorities. Nearly two weeks later, police uncovered her body in a Tolleson apartment west of Phoenix.

According to investigators, Norman’s remains were found on Jan. 28, concealed under blankets and towels inside an apartment registered to Randal Basilio Santillan, 27. Medical examiners determined she suffered nearly 30 stab wounds. Authorities have not revealed a possible motive for the killing.

The case took a turn when detectives linked evidence at the crime scene to Santillan, who had reportedly disappeared from the area around the same time as Norman’s death. With an arrest warrant in hand, law enforcement agencies began tracking his movements across several states.

Traffic cameras and digital surveillance indicated that Santillan’s vehicle passed through New Mexico, Illinois, and Missouri before finally stopping in Biloxi, Mississippi. Authorities coordinated with local police there, leading to his arrest on Friday.

Santillan is currently being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center as he awaits extradition to Arizona, where he faces charges including first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Norman, known affectionately as “Sisi” to those close to her, had recently enrolled in community college and was excited to begin building her life independently. Loved ones described her as a kindhearted and promising young woman who cared deeply for friends and family.

Details surrounding Norman’s relationship with Santillan, and how their meeting unfolded, remain unclear. Police have not indicated whether the two had met in person before or what communications preceded the crime.

The aftermath has left Norman’s family grappling with shock and disbelief, mourning a life cut short as they await legal proceedings against her accused killer.

Supporters have set up an online fundraiser to assist with funeral costs, highlighting Norman’s talents, compassion, and aspirations for the future. The investigation is ongoing as authorities prepare to bring Santillan back to Arizona for prosecution.

Officials have not commented on whether additional charges may be filed or if further information about the case will be released in the coming weeks.