Prosecutors: UCLA student found dead in burning apartment was stabbed
LOS ANGELES -- Two 22-year-old men fatally stabbed a University of California, Los Angeles student before setting her apartment on fire, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The two men pleaded not guilty in the death of Andrea Del Vesco, 21, whose body was discovered in the fire in her Westwood apartment last week. Authorities had not previously said whether she died in the fire or was killed first.
Del Vesco, who went by "Andy," was a fourth-year UCLA psychology major and sorority member from Austin, Texas.
Prosecutors say Alberto Hinojosa Medina of Fresno burglarized an apartment on Sept. 21, then entered another apartment and fatally stabbed Del Vesco before setting the fire. He's charged with capital murder, arson and burglary. A judge ordered him held without bail. Prosecutors said they would decide later whether to seek the death penalty for him.
Medina is a Fresno State University student, reports CBS LA.
Another UCLA student, Eric Marquez, is charged with murder and burglary in the case. He was ordered held on $1.1 million bail and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is a fifth-year biology student at the university, reports the station.
Deputy District Attorney Victor Avila said in court that Medina was captured on surveillance video "covering up blood on his shirt" with a blanket belonging to Del Vesco, the Los Angeles Times reported. He said Del Vesco's property was later recovered from Medina's home in Fresno.
Prosecutors said Marquez's car, recognizable by the Greek lettering on the back, was the "getaway vehicle."
Marquez's attorney argued that he should be granted bail as a student with no prior record who is accused of aiding and abetting rather than actually carrying out the killing.
"He is someone who has never been in trouble before," Steve Cron said.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said his detectives had not established any relationship between the victim and the suspects.