Murder charges filed against 2 men in UCLA student's death
A UCLA student whose body was found inside a burning apartment in Westwood was stabbed to death, officials say.
Avila said the men carried out a burglary at another apartment nearby before DelVesco's home was broken into. A laptop and stereo speakers were stolen from the first apartment, he said.
Marquez's attorney, Steve Cron, argued that his client should be granted bail because he had no prior criminal record and is a pre-med senior student at UCLA. Marquez, the attorney said, is accused of aiding and abetting, not actually carrying out the killing.
"He is someone who has never been in trouble before," Cron said.
Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz set Marquez's bail at $1.1 million. Medina was denied bail because he is facing a special circumstance allegation that accuses him of murder while carrying out a burglary. The allegation makes him eligible for the death penalty.
Dmitry Gorin, Medina's attorney, said he is yet to see the police reports but maintains his client is innocent. Medina is a student at Fresno State.
This was a horrific crime that I know shocked the school and much of Los Angeles. I was also extremely troubled by it. - Charlie Beck, LAPD chief
The judge rejected a media request to photograph the defendants and forbid a sketch artist from drawing the pair, noting that eyewitness identification is a key issue in the case.
Earlier in the day, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said there was a “considerable amount” of forensic evidence in the case, along with statements from witnesses linking Marquez and Medina to DelVesco's death.
Police arrested Medina on Saturday at his home in Fresno, the LAPD said. Marquez was arrested the next day near his apartment in Westwood.
Beck said he was not aware of any relationship his detectives had established between the victim and her alleged killers, whom his detectives believe acted alone.
[iframe name="google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.latimes/news/local/blog/lanow_3" width="300" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.latimes/news/local/blog/lanow_3" src="javascript:"[/iframe]
“This was a horrific crime that I know shocked the school and much of Los Angeles. I was also extremely troubled by it,” he said. “I think the detectives did a magnificent job in making the arrests so soon. I know that I am sleeping more comfortably at night and the public should also.”
Firefighters found DelVesco's body on Sept. 21 as they searched a smoke-filled apartment in a complex about a block from the Westwood campus. DelVesco was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood with flyers last week, asking the public for help.
Coroner's officials have not released information about their investigation, citing a security hold the LAPD placed on the case.
A source familiar with some of the details of the case said DelVesco was stabbed 19 times.
DelVesco, a native of Austin, Texas, was a fourth-year psychology major, UCLA said Monday. Earlier, her sorority sisters identified her as a member of Pi Beta Phi.
Get the essential California headlines delivered free >>
“Andy had a contagious spirit and was a fearless giver,” Pi Beta Phi Chapter President Jacquie Medeiros said. “Andy was a friend to every person she met. She was always inclusive and there for everyone. More than anything, Andy wanted us to be ourselves … and most of all to never ever give up.”
DelVesco’s mother declined to comment Tuesday.
Melanie Peskett, DelVesco's aunt, said the woman's relatives were overwhelmed with grief. The family, she said, was glad the two men believed to be responsible were in custody.
Court records showed DelVesco was arrested and charged this summer with drug possession. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was scheduled to appear in court last week, the district attorney’s office said.
Marquez was studying biology at UCLA, the university said Monday.
Medina’s father, Jose Medina, said his son told him that “he didn’t do it.”
Times staff writer Stephen Ceasar contributed to this report.
Follow @katemather, @VeronicaRochaLA and @LAcrimes for more crime news.
A UCLA student whose body was found inside a burning apartment in Westwood was stabbed to death, officials say.
Avila said the men carried out a burglary at another apartment nearby before DelVesco's home was broken into. A laptop and stereo speakers were stolen from the first apartment, he said.
Marquez's attorney, Steve Cron, argued that his client should be granted bail because he had no prior criminal record and is a pre-med senior student at UCLA. Marquez, the attorney said, is accused of aiding and abetting, not actually carrying out the killing.
"He is someone who has never been in trouble before," Cron said.
Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz set Marquez's bail at $1.1 million. Medina was denied bail because he is facing a special circumstance allegation that accuses him of murder while carrying out a burglary. The allegation makes him eligible for the death penalty.
Dmitry Gorin, Medina's attorney, said he is yet to see the police reports but maintains his client is innocent. Medina is a student at Fresno State.
This was a horrific crime that I know shocked the school and much of Los Angeles. I was also extremely troubled by it. - Charlie Beck, LAPD chief
The judge rejected a media request to photograph the defendants and forbid a sketch artist from drawing the pair, noting that eyewitness identification is a key issue in the case.
Earlier in the day, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said there was a “considerable amount” of forensic evidence in the case, along with statements from witnesses linking Marquez and Medina to DelVesco's death.
Police arrested Medina on Saturday at his home in Fresno, the LAPD said. Marquez was arrested the next day near his apartment in Westwood.
Beck said he was not aware of any relationship his detectives had established between the victim and her alleged killers, whom his detectives believe acted alone.
[iframe name="google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.latimes/news/local/blog/lanow_3" width="300" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.latimes/news/local/blog/lanow_3" src="javascript:"[/iframe]
“This was a horrific crime that I know shocked the school and much of Los Angeles. I was also extremely troubled by it,” he said. “I think the detectives did a magnificent job in making the arrests so soon. I know that I am sleeping more comfortably at night and the public should also.”
Firefighters found DelVesco's body on Sept. 21 as they searched a smoke-filled apartment in a complex about a block from the Westwood campus. DelVesco was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood with flyers last week, asking the public for help.
Coroner's officials have not released information about their investigation, citing a security hold the LAPD placed on the case.
A source familiar with some of the details of the case said DelVesco was stabbed 19 times.
DelVesco, a native of Austin, Texas, was a fourth-year psychology major, UCLA said Monday. Earlier, her sorority sisters identified her as a member of Pi Beta Phi.
Get the essential California headlines delivered free >>
“Andy had a contagious spirit and was a fearless giver,” Pi Beta Phi Chapter President Jacquie Medeiros said. “Andy was a friend to every person she met. She was always inclusive and there for everyone. More than anything, Andy wanted us to be ourselves … and most of all to never ever give up.”
DelVesco’s mother declined to comment Tuesday.
Melanie Peskett, DelVesco's aunt, said the woman's relatives were overwhelmed with grief. The family, she said, was glad the two men believed to be responsible were in custody.
Court records showed DelVesco was arrested and charged this summer with drug possession. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was scheduled to appear in court last week, the district attorney’s office said.
Marquez was studying biology at UCLA, the university said Monday.
Medina’s father, Jose Medina, said his son told him that “he didn’t do it.”
Times staff writer Stephen Ceasar contributed to this report.
Follow @katemather, @VeronicaRochaLA and @LAcrimes for more crime news.
