Charges filed against daughter suspected of killing mother in Coachella
A woman suspected of stabbing her 53-year-old mother to death in Coachella over the weekend pleaded not guilty today to a felony charge of murder.
Marilyn Alisa Cardenas, 22, who had recently relocated to the Coachella Valley, also denied a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a weapon during a felony, according to court records. She was arraigned Thursday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
About 5:50 p.m. Sunday, patrol deputies were called to the 83-000 block of Avenue 48, near the Indian Palms Country Club & Resort, to investigate reports of an assault, according to Lance Stoyer of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Upon arrival, deputies found Elba Estrada of San Bernardino on the ground, suffering from a stab wound.
First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stoyer said Central Homicide Unit detectives took over the investigation and quickly identified Cardenas as the suspect. She was taken into custody without incident at the location.
She remains held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on a $1 million bail bond.
Anyone with additional information on the stabbing was asked to call Central Homicide Unit Investigator D. Robertson at 951-955-1700 or Thermal Sheriff's Station Investigator Davis-Ardon at 760-863-8990.
