Suspect Arrested Over Alleged Murder of US Flight Attendant in Mexico, Family Says

PHOENIX – The mother of an American flight attendant found dead in his Mexico City hotel room posted on Facebook that a suspect was arrested over the weekend for her son's murder.

The body of Nick Aaronson, a Phoenix-based US Airways flight attendant on a layover in the Mexican capital, was discovered shortly after 6:00 a.m. local time Saturday by his colleagues. He was lying naked face down on the floor of his room at the Hilton Hotel, with his own belt tied around his neck and another belt around his hands. His possessions were strewn about the room.

Anita Aaranson told KPHO late Sunday that the FBI called her earlier in the day to say an arrest was made after police reviewed hotel security cameras. A family friend also told CBS 5 News that detectives tracked Nick Aaranson's stolen iPhone to the suspect using the device's GPS system.

"He was only 27 and he had so much to live for, and he was so charming and was just a really nice man," Anita Aaranson said. "I wish they had the death penalty in Mexico. He took the bright light out of my life."

She added that the family was awaiting the results of an autopsy report, but in the meantime, another son, Jason, was due in Mexico City on Monday "to bring Nick home."

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) said that other US Airways staff members staying at the hotel were relocated temporarily.

"Preliminary findings do not indicate a safety breach at the hotel. Therefore, we do not believe our crew members are at risk. However, until this matter is resolved, layover crews will be temporarily relocated to an alternative location," a statement on the AFA's website said.

Newscore contributed to this report 

Click here for more on this story from MyFoxPhoenix.com.

Mexico News: Valley Flight Attendant Murdered: MyFoxPHOENIX.com