Michael Bates, 56, was arrested over the weekend at a home in the city, homicide detectives told Eyewitness News. He's accused of repeatedly stabbing and cutting the throat of 42-year-old Iesha Massey before he dumped her body.
Massey's family had reported her missing in mid-October. Her body was found by a cleanup crew on Nov. 19, just north of the Lancaster city limits.
That prompted detectives to ask for the public's help in finding her killer.
Bates was arrested Sunday at his deceased aunt's home in Lancaster. That's where detectives say they found evidence linking Bates to Massey's murder, including packing material, blankets and twine.
No further details were immediately known about the arrest or the aunt, but homicide detectives said Bates' aunt's death is not connected to this homicide case.
He's expected to be charged with torture, murder and more.