Venezuelan police arrest 3 suspects in strangling of American priest

Venezuela arrests suspects in US priest’s slaying

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan police have arrested and charged three suspects with murder in the slaying of an American priest.

The Attorney General’s Office announced in a statement Wednesday that the suspects were arrested last week.

The Rev. Esteban Woods died April 29 in the eastern city of Puerto Ordaz. Authorities believe he was killed in a struggle during a break-in at his apartment.

Prosecutors initially suspected he was stabbed to death, but now believe he was strangled.

Woods was a 68-year-old native of Vancouver, Washington. He served as a Roman Catholic priest in Venezuela for 23 years.

Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in Latin America.