Man pleads not guilty to killing of Indio teen

A Mexican citizen suspected of killing a 19-year-old womantwo years ago and leaving her body in a Coachella cornfield pleaded notguilty today to a murder charge and had his bail revoked.

Raymundo Garcia Vasquez, 27, was arrested about 10:30 a.m. last Thursdayat the Calexico border crossing in connection with the death of KarinaSepulveda of Indio, whose body was found in a field near Fillmore Street and50th Avenue on May 4, 2011.

Investigators later identified Vasquez as the “sole suspect” in thekilling and obtained an arrest warrant in January, according to the RiversideCounty Sheriff’s Department. He was charged with murder in February, accordingto court records.

Vasquez was arraigned this afternoon at the Larson Justice Center byRiverside County Superior Court Judge Victoria E. Cameron, who revoked his $1million bail.

“Based on the facts as I see them … and the fact that it took us twoyears to get him and he fled the jurisdiction, I will give him no bail,” thejudge said.

Cameron appointed the county public defender’s office to representVasquez, who is due back in court on June 5 for a felony settlement conference.

The criminal complaint states that Sepulveda died or about April 28,2011, but does not specify how the she was killed. A declaration filed insupport of an arrest warrant was sealed, according to court records.