Police confirm a nurse has been arrested amid the widely-followed Hacienda Healthcare sexual assault investigation.
Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams and Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams held a press conference with the announcement on Wednesday morning.
Since a woman in a vegetative state receiving care at the facility gave birth in late December, police say they have been working tirelessly to find the suspect.
Williams announced Wednesday that police took the suspect into custody. They identified him as 36-year-old Nathan Sutherland, a caretaker and licensed practical nurse at the facility.
Sutherland was reportedly responsible for caring for the victim at the time the sexual assault occurred. He has worked at the facility since 2011.
Police say DNA tests from employees reportedly helped police find a match between Sutherland and the baby. Officials took samples from Sutherland on Tuesday.
He was taken into custody and will be booked into jail Wednesday, police say. He is expected to be charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of vulnerable adult abuse.
BREAKING: Sources tell @abc15 Phoenix police have made an arrest in the Hacienda case through a DNA match.
Press conf at 8am.
— Dave Biscobing (@DaveBiscobing15) January 23, 2019
Earlier this week, the facility announced that two doctors were no longer practicing and the family clarified the victim's condition , saying she's not in a coma, but suffers intellectual disabilities.
A police spokesperson said Wednesday that he wasn't sure how much help the victim was able to provide during the investigation and arrest process.
They say the baby is doing "quite well" at this time.
An internal investigation of the facility is underway. Police are asking anyone with more information to come forward.
FULL SECTION: Hacienda Healthcare investigation
