LAS VEGAS -- A man has been arrested in connection with the killing of a woman whose body was left in a Las Vegas Valley trash can.

Officers found the victim, 22-year-old Helena Haley, near Carson Avenue and South Eighth Street in September. She was from North Carolina.

This week officers said they arrested a suspect in the case, Khalfani Howard, 29.

Howard is accused of killing Haley by either blunt force trauma to the head, suffocation or some other premeditated method. He has been charged with murder.

Howard dated Haley and lived with her briefly, according to the arrest report. Police said they found his prints on a letter sent to her family which said she was away.

He was arrested in San Bernardino, Calif., where he is in jail awaiting extradition to Clark County.