relieve e relieved. >> there are no words to describe how we feel right now. >> reporter: police say this man, 24-year-old michael mele, convicted sex offender behind bars for unrelated charges, was the last person seen with garza. >> he's not charged with anything relative to this particular investigation. michael mele is still a suspect in the disappearance of laura garza. >> reporter: since garza vanished nearly a dozen women have come forward in new york, new jersey and connecticut accusing mele of lewd acts in shopping malls and parking lots. among his first known victims, maclaine, who spoke to nbc news exclusively after garza's disappearance. >> i can replay it in my memory vividly. i started walking a little bit fa faster. he was right on my back. i could hear him breathing. as soon as he put his hands on me i knew i was in a lot of trouble. my only real thought was, oh, my god, what if i die right now. what if i'm raped and killed.