US police have arrested a laboratory technician thought to be the prime suspect in the murder of a female graduate student at Yale university.

Neighbours hung over their railings and cheered as Raymond Clark, 24, dressed in a tight fitting white shirt, was led, handcuffed, from his apartment building in Middletown, Connecticut.

As he was driven away police re-entered the apartment to search it for DNA and other physical evidence that would connect him to the murder of Annie Le, 24, who disappeared on September 8.

James Lewis, the New Haven Chief of Police, said that officers were hoping to compare DNA taken from Mr Clark to more than 150 pieces of evidence collected from the crime scene.

"We're going to be making sure there's not other suspects out there," Mr Lewis said.

Investigators began staking out Mr Clark's home on Monday, a day after they discovered Ms Le's body hidden in the basement of a research building at the medical school of the prestigious Ivy League university.

The animal laboratory technician worked at the same laboratory as Ms Le and had access to the basement area where her body was discovered stuffed into a wall duct on Sunday, which was to be her wedding day. She vanished after swiping her ID card to enter the university laboratory. Police also found blood-stained clothing stuffed above a ceiling tile that is believed to belong to the killer.

The New Haven Independent, citing a law enforcement source, said that the suspect, who was also engaged, had an "unrequited love interest" in the 24-year-old bride-to-be.

Mr Clark shares his apartment with his girlfriend, Jennifer Hromadka, whom he planned to marry in December 2011, according to the couple's incomplete wedding web site.

On the site, Ms Hromadka describes her boyfriend as “a bit naive, doesn’t always use the best judgement, definitly [sic] is not the best judge of character but, he is a good guy.” She adds: "He has a big heart and tries to see the best in people ALL THE TIME! He thinks everyone deserves a second chance.”

Mr Clark moved to Middletown, about 32 kms (20 miles) from New Haven six months ago, according toa former neighbour Taylor Goodwin, 16. "I never really talked to him much, he was just some guy," he said.

The Le family issued a statement through a family friend, the Reverend Dennis Smith, thanking friends and the Yale community for their support . "The entire Yale community as well as our extended families and friends have been very supportive, helpful and caring," said the Reverend Smith, speaking for the family. "Our loss would have been immeasurably more difficult to cope with without their support."

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