Philadelphia ( CNN ) -- Philadelphia prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against suspected serial strangler Antonio Rodriguez , according to District Attorney spokeswoman Tasha Jamerson . Rodriguez appeared at a preliminary hearing Wednesday where two police detectives read confessions Rodriguez gave regarding three women he allegedly killed and sexually assaulted between November and December of last year , according to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Bretschneider . Nicknamed the Kensington strangler , the 21-year-old Rodriguez was arrested after DNA testing linked him to the attacks in the city 's Kensington district , according to Detective Justin Frank . `` We 're hopeful that this will put an end to this , '' Frank said . Rodriguez is suspected of killing Casey Mahoney , 27 ; Elaine Goldberg , 21 ; and Nicole Piacentini , 35 . Police Capt . James J. Clark said Rodriguez is a homeless man . In December , a 33-year-old woman was pulled into an alley and may have been the victim of the same attacker , police said . Despite being choked , punched and hit on the head with a brick , she escaped her assailant , who fled from the scene , according to the police report . CNN 's Upinder Pathania and Sarah Hoye contributed to this report .
Antonio Rodriguez has been charged in the murders of three women . He was arrested after DNA testing linked him to the attacks .