Five National City murder suspects agreed Monday to delay their preliminary hearing until Aug. 27 in the death of a young woman who died of asphyxiation.
Alexandria Nicole Smith, 30, of San Diego, was reported missing to National City Police by her mother who believed she was last seen heading to a party in National City on Oct. 2, 2017. She is alleged to have been killed on Oct. 3 and her body was not recovered until a week later.
On Monday before San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Smyth, two men and three women agreed to delay their June preliminary hearing until Aug. 27. With their attorneys, they agreed one by one to delay the hearing. The hearing is expected to last two weeks, according to court records.
Pablo Victor Valadez, 35, Jonnie Alexander Isaguirre, 22, Crystal Lopez Melendez, 33, Amber Star Suarez, 38, and Maria Yvette Pereira, 26, have all pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. Suarez is also known as Amber Leal.
They are also charged with a special circumstance allegation that Smith’s murder was committed during a robbery. If convicted of first-degree murder, they would all receive a life sentence in state prison without parole. Valadez has been convicted of burglary and auto theft in 2002 and 2007. Melendez has also been convicted of auto theft.
“The facts have not been discussed in court yet,” said Deputy District Attorney Matthew Williams on Monday. “It’s an open investigation.”
All five defendants remain in jail on $2 million bail.
