Yasin AbduSabur, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of Terri Lynn Bills.
"I cried in court," said Bills' nephew Joshua Highway, who had be waiting to hear about a break in the case.
Police say in June 2015, Bills was killed and dismembered — her torso found inside a vacant home on Willow Avenue in Niagara Falls.
"My aunt through marriage definitely did not deserve to go this way," added Highway, who says his aunt met AbduSabur in rehab.
Authorities say the murder case went cold until April 2019, when AbduSabur was tracked down following an arrest in South Carolina.
He was a year into serving time for domestic violence and child neglect before being extradited back to Niagara County.
Bills' death has long been linked to the 2012 death of another relative, Loretta Gates, who was also dismembered. The Niagara County district attorney says they are searching for another murder suspect.
"It's pretty sad that they were both murdered in the exact same way," said Highway, who always suspected the lives of both women taken by the same killer.
"The reason we are sure that this defendant is not responsible for the death of Loretta Gates is that he was serving time for a felony conviction at the time of her death," said DA Caroline Wojtaszek.
Her statement puts to rest any rumors of a serial killer on the loose in Niagara County.
Loretta Gates' family left court relieved for the Bills family.
"The boys have justice for their mom," said Loretta's sister, Lisa Johnson.
The family was also frustrated that Gates' case is still cold eight years later.
Authorities say they haven't given up.
Gates' family is also encouraging anyone with information in the case to come forward and help bring them closure.