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ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona fugitive accused of strangling girlfriend arrested at LEGOLAND California

An Arizona man wanted on a nationwide warrant in connection with a violent attack on his girlfriend was arrested at LEGOLAND California.

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An Arizona man wanted on a nationwide warrant in connection with a violent attack on his girlfriend was arrested at LEGOLAND California, authorities announced Monday.

Jason Marchesano, 46, allegedly strangled his girlfriend using bedsheets inside after an argument on Oct. 28, 2025, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

The alleged strangling took place in a towable recreational vehicle in Paulden, an unincorporated community in Yavapai County. Paulden is around 26 miles north of Prescott.

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The victim escaped and reported the assault. Deputies later documented bruising that matched her account, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives followed multiple leads in Arizona and Nevada before learning Marchesano had traveled to California. They worked with local law enforcement to arrest him at the LEGOLAND resort and theme park in the San Diego County city of Carlsbad.

Marchesano is facing charges of attempted second-degree homicide, kidnapping and aggravated assault.

A tip from the community also helped authorities locate the suspect, according to the sheriff’s office.

Serena O'Sullivan KTAR News Reporter and Editor

Serena O’Sullivan is a Phoenix-based news reporter and content editor for KTAR.com, where she covers local and national stories with a digital-first approach. Her reporting has appeared in major outlets including USA Today, Arizona Republic, Phoenix… Read more

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