Suspect Charged in 2018 Stabbing Death of Pasadena Woman

A 26-year-old man was charged Monday with the fatal stabbing of a Pasadena woman in a Westminster hotel two years ago.

Aryan Vito Smith is charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement allegation of the personal use of a deadly weapon in the death of 22-year-old Treeanna Nichols, according to court records.

Smith was arrested Thursday and was being held on $1 million bail. Police did not reveal a motive for the killing.

Nichols had only been at the hotel for a short time when she was killed. She had quite a few friends and acquaintances in the area. They all thought she was going to have a short stay at the Quality Inn at 6601 Westminster Blvd.

Westminster police officers were asked by Nichols’ family to do a welfare check when they could not get a hold of her.

Police arrived at the hotel just before 11 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2018, and found her dead in a room.

According to police, she had been stabbed multiple times, Westminster police Cmdr. Cameron Knauerhaze said.

In March 2018, Westminster police asked for the public’s help finding tracking down Nichols’ killer and released surveillance video of a man chugging on a vaping device as he climbed up the stairs on his way to the hotel room where the victim was found.

At that time police said there was no sign of forced entry into the room.

Investigators suspect the assailant was injured during the attack, the commander said.