RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Mark Edward Thomas denied killing his 18-year-old girlfriend to police, but admitted to stuffing her body in a suitcase and hauling it from one Ontario motel to another, according to police reports. Although detectives found pictures suggesting Thomas may have severely choked 18-year-old Briele Johnson in the past, he steadfastly denied ever harming her, and said he packed her body in the suitcase because he wanted to care for her corpse, according to the documents.
He told police he found Johnson unconscious and "cared for her that night, called her his baby and wanted to care for the body, so he put it in the suitcase and eventually got a ride to the Motel 6 in Ontario,' according to police reports.
Thomas, 23, pleaded not guilty on Friday to murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in West Valley Superior Court.
Police arrested him Tuesday night at the Motel 6 at 1560 E. Fourth St. after a woman reported he stabbed her and stole her purse. When officers entered his room they found Johnson's naked body curled up inside the large, light brown suitcase. Her body showed signs of strangulation, according to police reports.
Thomas appeared for his arraignment in West Valley Superior Court on Friday wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles. He stayed quiet during most of the hearing, speaking only once to tell Judge John Pacheco he couldn't afford to hire a lawyer.
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2425601,00.html
He told police he found Johnson unconscious and "cared for her that night, called her his baby and wanted to care for the body, so he put it in the suitcase and eventually got a ride to the Motel 6 in Ontario,' according to police reports.
Thomas, 23, pleaded not guilty on Friday to murder, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon in West Valley Superior Court.
Police arrested him Tuesday night at the Motel 6 at 1560 E. Fourth St. after a woman reported he stabbed her and stole her purse. When officers entered his room they found Johnson's naked body curled up inside the large, light brown suitcase. Her body showed signs of strangulation, according to police reports.
Thomas appeared for his arraignment in West Valley Superior Court on Friday wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and shackles. He stayed quiet during most of the hearing, speaking only once to tell Judge John Pacheco he couldn't afford to hire a lawyer.
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~12588~2425601,00.html