Boy, 15, pleads not guilty in death of 8-year-old Maddy Middleton in Santa Cruz
A 15-year-old boy pleaded not guilty Monday in the death of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton in Santa Cruz.
Adrian Jerry Gonzalez, of Santa Cruz, faces one count of murder with the special circumstance that he kidnapped, sexually assaulted and tied up Maddy before killing her July 26. He is also charged with a special circumstance of lying in wait -- or waiting to attack her. A special circumstance means the charges could carry a stiffer sentence.
He also has been charged with one count of kidnapping and four other sexual assault-related offenses. If convicted of all charges, he faces life in prison, according to Santa Cruz County Dist. Atty. Jeffrey Rosell.
Gonzalez is being housed in a juvenile detention facility. He is remains jailed on $5 million bail.
Maddy’s father planned a rally outside the courthouse. Photographs on social media showed people gathered outside the courthouse, holding signs displaying photos of a smiling Maddy.
Maddy was last seen about 5:05 p.m. July 26 on surveillance video, showing her riding her scooter in the sprawling Tannery Arts Center.
Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel said Gonzalez then lured Maddy to his family’s apartment, where they were alone, and killed her. The boy then carried her body downstairs to a garage and hid it in a recycling bin, he said.
She and the boy both lived at the center, a mixed-use creative space providing affordable housing to artists.
When she didn’t return home, a search was launched over her sudden disappearance.
FBI investigators went door-to-door looking for clues and dozens of artists who live in the housing complex searched for her.
A little more than 24 hours after she disappeared, a Santa Cruz police detective found Maddy’s body at the bottom of the recycling bin, which had already been searched once by volunteers. Gonzalez had been seen standing near the bin, watching police as they searched, Vogel said.
Police believe Maddy had been killed before they started searching for her Sunday evening.
For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA.
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