Transient pleads not guilty to killing homeless woman
A transient parolee pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murdering a homeless woman in February and leaving her body in a desert lot.
Verne Raymond Orlop Jr., 52, was ordered June 17 to stand trial on a single charge of murder and two sentence-enhancing weapon-use allegations in the death of 48-year-old Denee Salisbury.
Orlop Jr. is scheduled to appear for a trial-readiness conference at the Larson Justice Center on August 11.
Police were called to a lot near the intersection of E. Mesquite Avenue and S. Palm Canyon Drive just after 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 21 after someone reported finding an unresponsive woman.
When police arrived they discovered Salisbury was deceased. Detectives began investigating her death as suspicious and determined she had been murdered.
Officers arrested Orlop Jr. the next day after finding evidence linking him to the murder, according to the police report.
He was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on charges of murder and violating his parole. He’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Streetlifeproject.com reached out to News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 after Denee Salisbury’s death. Organizers with the nonprofit organization said they’re always looking for more volunteers to help with the homeless issue. Just visit their website for more information. You can also check them out on Facebook.
