An arrest has been made in the killing of a woman whose burned body was found Tuesday in Discovery Park.
Sacramento police said today they have arrested Robert Thompson (pictured), 36, on suspicion of homicide in the killing of the still-unidentified female.
It will take several days to make a positive identification of the severely burned body that was found by a passing bicyclist. Police say the body was burned beyond recognition.
Race and age are not known, police said. While the cause of death has yet to be determined, the woman suffered upper body trauma, according to a press release from the police department.
Police said that since the woman has not been identified, they cannot yet release the relationship between the victim and Thompson.
According to Sacramento County Superior Court online records, Thompson has an extensive criminal history. It includes sentences in 2001 for second-degree robbery and in 2007 for possessing or purchasing cocaine for sale and for committing a sex offense while in prison. In October 2011, he also pleaded no contest to failing to register as a sex offender.
The bicyclist initially thought the smoke he was seeing near the archery range off the Garden Highway was simply burning leaves.
He contacted authorities to put out the fire. Sacramento firefighters arrived and discovered the badly burned body. Police were called at about 6:30 a.m. to investigate.
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