"In these situations, it's not uncommon for law enforcement to bandwagon and try to clear up old files," Barman said.
But authorities said they were looking at Gunning in several cases because of similarities in the cases, including strangulation of the victims, who were white and blond, and were thought to be prostitutes.
Gunning, who lives in the 1000 block of Oakwood Drive in Huntington Valley, was arrested about 11:30 p.m. May 2 in Hamilton Township, N.J., when two police officers pulled up behind a utility van parked in a dark alley near the Trenton border, said Detective Capt. Kevin Pollard.
The passenger door flung open, Pollard said, and a woman clad only in her underwear ran toward police crying that "he tried to strangle me."
Police said clothesline was found in Gunning's vehicle. At that time, Gunning was charged with aggravated assault and released after posting $10,000 bail. He had no criminal record before that arrest.
On June 9, the charge was upgraded to attempted murder, and Gunning was rearrested at his home. Onofri said the charge was upgraded after the inquiries began coming in. Gunning was held in a Pennsylvania jail until Thursday, when he was returned to New Jersey after waiving extradition.
Police sent out an announcement to other agencies after Gunning's initial arrest, Pollard said, and jurisdictions with similar cases expressed interest in talking with Gunning.
That announcement attracted the attention of Montgomery County officials, among others. Bruce L. Castor Jr., first assistant district attorney for Montgomery County, said county detectives went to Mercer County about two weeks ago to talk with authorities there.
