Arruda was fully clothed and tied to a tree when her badly decomposed remains were discovered two months after her disappearance, per FindLaw. An autopsy revealed that she had either died from strangulation or asphyxia. In addition, it was uncovered that Arruda was alive when she was tied to the tree and that she had died the same day she had been abducted. Medical examiners believe that she died when she became unconscious from a ligature around her neck. Ultimately, this caused her to suffocate.
According to The Cinemaholic, authorities zeroed in on Kater. Although he claimed he was innocent, the evidence said otherwise. Besides his shaky alibi, the cigarettes, and the green car, the police were able to determine that his car’s tire marks matched the ones found next to Arruda’s bike. Moreover, there was a mark on the car that police theorized had resulted from Kater bumping into Arruda’s bike. Perhaps the most damning indication that Kater had murdered Arruda was a previous crime he had committed. In June 1968, Kater abducted Jacalyn Bussiere, a 13-year-old from North Andover (via FindLaw).
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Like Arruda, Bussiere was riding her bike in her neighborhood when she was approached by Kater. FindLaw explains that Kater grabbed the girl and drove her to the forest. Once there, she fought back and Kater tied her to a tree and attempted to strangle her. However, Bussiere did not die; she woke up and sought help.
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