Photo: GoFundMe
The Las Vegas man accused of killing a 24-year-old Instagram model whose remains were found encased in concrete has pleaded not guilty to many charges he faces.
PEOPLE confirms that Christopher Prestipino, 45, appeared in court Tuesday after being indicted last week on murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges — all stemming from his alleged role in the death of Esmeralda Gonzalez.
Gonzalez vanished in late May, according to police, and her body was found in the desert outside Glendale, Nevada, on Oct. 8.
Her hands were bound and there was white tape around her head and neck. The body was found wrapped in blankets and stuffed inside a 250-gallon water tank that was then filled with concrete and covered with wood.
Christopher Prestipino.AP/Shutterstock
The paper also reports she lived close to Prestipino’s residence.
A motive has not been established at this point.
Lisa Mort.Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
KSNV reportsthat Casandra Garrett, Prestipino’s 39-year-old roommate, and Lisa Mort, his 31-year-old girlfriend, also face charges related to the model’s murder.
Garrett has been charged with murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges, while Mort faces a single count of harboring, concealing or aiding a felon.
Garrett is awaiting extradition from Wisconsin, where she was arrested last month. She has yet to plead to the charges against her.
Casandra Garrett.Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office
It was unclear if Mort had entered a plea to the charge she faces. Lawyers for both women could not be reached for comment.
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Prestipino’s lawyer, Bill Terry, was also unavailable to comment on his client’s behalf.
Gonzalez was originally from Mexico and had attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to her Facebook profile.
source: people.com
