Police Question "Person of Interest" In Mya Lyons's Murder

By Margaret Lyons in News on Jul 18, 2008 10:28PM

Police are talking to a "person of interest" in Mya Lyons's death this afternoon.

The person of interest, a man in his 30s or 40s, was arrested sometime between 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday after possibly telling his friends he had been in the alley where Mya was found.

He told investigators he is a "scrapper"—someone who collects scrap metal -to sell. He allegedly admitted to police he was in the alley and said that if had stayed longer, he could have saved her, according to the source, who said the person of interest may be mentally unstable.

The wounds on Mya's body were all on her right side torso area, leading investigators to believe the crime was committed by a left-handed person, and the person of interest is left-handed, according to the source, who said the man has a cut on his right hand that dental forensics investigators believe may have been caused when Mya bit him.

The man, who is not related to Mya, is in police custody but has not been charged with anything. [WBBM]