LOS ANGELES — 15-year-old Adrian Jerry Gonzalez has been charged as an adult with murder, rape, and other sexual assault related offenses. Based on these charges, Gonzalez faces life in prison if convicted.
The teen pleaded not guilty to the charges today.
Gonzalez was arrested after the body of 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton was found a few blocks from where she went missing on July 27, 2015.
Santa Cruz Police Detectives with FBI Agents discovered the body in a dumpster at the Tannery Arts Center complex, 1030 River Street.
Prosecuters say the suspect kidnapped, sexually assaulted and tied up Maddy before murdering her.
Middleton died from strangulation and stab wounds to the neck, authorities said.
Coroner’s officials determined the girl died of “positional asphyxiation,” or strangulation, and found stab wounds on her throat, said Lt. Kelly Kent of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department. Maddy’s death was ruled a homicide.
From L.A. Times: “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.”
