Man Convicted in Death of Pt. Pleasant’s Kyleigh Sousa

A transient accused of fatally dragging an Arizona State University student while stealing her purse has been convicted of first-degree murder and robbery.

Maricopa County prosecutors said Monday that 22-year-old Joseluis Marquez faces between 25 years to life in prison when he's sentenced Dec. 14.

Authorities say 21-year-old Kyleigh Sousa, a 2007 graduate of Point Pleasant Borough High School, was outside a Tempe restaurant around 2 a.m. on May 26, 2010, when a man approached her and grabbed her purse.

Tempe police say the man jumped into a rental car and took off, dragging Sousa, who was tangled up in the purse's strap.

Authorities say a witness later identified Marquez as the driver and he was arrested in December 2010.

Sousa was kept on life support until her family arrived from Toms River.

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