SAN DIEGO (AP) — A San Diego man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a teenage girl found beaten and stabbed in the basement of an abandoned home three years ago.
Antero Cruz entered his plea Monday and is being held on $1 million bail.
Cruz was initially arrested 10 days after 14-year-old Ahlyja Pinson was stabbed, beaten and left to die on Dec. 31, 2007. She was found alive by a homeless man but died when he went to call 911.
The 23-year-old Cruz was released for lack of evidence but re-arrested last week. Police say detectives recently came up with new information linking the girl's death to Cruz. Investigators refused to elaborate.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
