An autopsy showed the mother was found dead next to a bloody iron in a New York City hotel room, strangled and beaten to death.
Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was discovered by staff at the SoHo 54 Hotel around 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Her death has been preliminarily ruled a homicide.
A spokesman for the city coroner said Oleas-Arancibia died from compression of her neck and blunt head trauma.
She was unconscious and unresponsive when officers arrived on scene. She suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead by emergency services.
Denisse Oleas-Arancibia, 38, was found dead in a room at the SoHo 45 Hotel on Thursday morning
Her death was officially ruled a murder (pictured: interior of the room where Oleas-Arancibia was found)
Oleas-Arancibia died from compression of her neck and blunt head trauma, according to a spokesman for the city coroner
A bloody iron was found near her body. However, there were no signs of forced entry, authorities said.
ABC 7 reported that a pair of bloody pants with a receipt inside were also recovered from the hotel room.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. The woman's son, 18-year-old Edwin Cevallos, spoke to his mother the day before her death.
But he said he saw changes in her behavior a week before the tragedy. “She was so nervous and worried,” Cevallos told the Daily News.
The teenager said he was in shock and added: “Everything here in New York reminds me of her. 'Everything.'
Cevallos lived with Oleas-Arancibia and her nephew in an apartment in Queens.
The 38-year-old mother was unresponsive and unconscious when authorities arrived on scene. She was pronounced dead by emergency services
A bloody iron was found next to her body. Police also found a pair of bloody pants with a receipt inside from the hotel room
Oleas-Arancibia (pictured left) came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind a family, including one of her sons
18-year-old Edwin Cevallos moved to the country with his mother two years ago. He described her as “a very good person” who “never hurt anyone.”
The Ecuadorian native came to the United States five years ago, leaving behind her family, including one of her other sons.
“My mother worked very hard,” said Cevallos, who came to live with her in the country two years ago.
While the teenager admitted he didn't know his mother's job, he said she was “always working for us to give us the best life in this country.”
The 18-year-old was expecting her on Thursday morning and called the police when he still didn't see her at 1 p.m.
Cevallos described his mother as “a very good person” who “always helped people” and “never hurt anyone.”
“She always paid for everything.” She never owed anyone any money. She always wanted to help them move forward,” the teen said.
He explained that his mother worked tirelessly to achieve the American dream and give her children a better life.
“She gave us the life we always wanted,” Cevallos said.
Cevallos admitted he didn't know what his mother did for a living, but said she worked hard to give him the life he always wanted
Detectives broke into the Manhattan hotel Thursday morning, frightening guests staying there for New York Fashion Week
SoHo 45, formerly known as Hampton Inn, advertises rooms on its website for about $110 a night
The last time he saw her was Wednesday morning, when she cooked him breakfast and paid a barber to give him a haircut.
Oleas-Arancibia told her son she loved him as he walked to school that day.
“She was always happy and having fun,” Cevallos said. “I can’t believe this happened.”
Detectives broke into the Manhattan hotel Thursday morning, frightening guests staying there for New York Fashion Week.
SoHo 45, formerly known as Hampton Inn, advertises rooms on its website for about $110 a night.
The hotel did not immediately respond to 's request for comment.