Prosecutors say a trio of defendants lured a North County Marine wife to go on a dinner cruise but had different plans for her in the hours before her death.
New details were revealed in court Tuesday about what may have happened to Brittany Killgore, the 22-year-old Fallbrook resident who was last seen alive April 13 wearing a purple evening gown.
Dorothy Grace Marie Maraglino, 36, appeared in a Vista courtroom to face a murder charge for allegedly aiding and abetting in Killgore's murder, prosecutors charged. She stood quietly in court staring at the ground with half her face covered by hair.
Maraglino was also pregnant, according to a law enforcement source, who added that she is due in August.
Her alleged co-conspirators Jessica Lynn Lopez, 25, and U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Louis Perez, 45 have pleaded not guilty to murder in previous court appearances.
Killgore's body was found abandoned near Lake Skinner in Riverside County on April 17 just four days after she was reported missing.
Maraglino was involved in the beginning, middle and end of the crime according to Deputy District Attorney Patrick Espinoza.
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On Tuesday, prosecutors said Maraglino called Killgore to convince her to go on a boat cruise with no intention of actually going on the cruise.
Killgore did not want to go with Maragalino, prosecutors said, because she knew the defendant didn't like her.
However, Killgore agreed to go with Perez. It was during that ride that prosecutors claim Killgore texted the word "help" to a friend.
Within minutes, according to investigators, Perez had texted Maraglino to meet him at the home they shared on East Fallbrook Street.
Maraglino bought the home in December 2009 according to our media partners the North County Times. At some point, she shared the home with Lopez and Perez.
Investigators searched the residence several times in the days after Killgore's body was discovered, taking photos, removing evidence bags and even watching video tapes according to neighbors.
A mailbox owned by Maraglino at a Mail Boxes Express store on Rosecrans was connected with bondage and sadomasochism according to store owner Mir Ali.
He said Maraglino lost the mailbox after failing to make payments about three months ago.
Click here for Timeline: Brittany Killgore Case
At a hearing last month, a prosecutor said investigators found Killgore’s blood and a weapon in Perez.
Lopez was arrested on April 17 at the Ramada Inn in Point Loma, found inside the hotel with self-inflicted wounds.
A suicide note reportedly refers to Maraglino as "Mistress" and Lopez as "Master." The San Diego Union Tribune published a report saying its staff had a copy of the handwritten note along with reaction from Lopez' attorney Sloan Ostbye who said the contents of the letter should not be believed.
Perez has lived in San Diego County for 10 years and has a wife here.
Homicide detectives said Maraglino’s arrest – the third in Killgore’s case – was made as a result of information and evidence obtained throughout the ongoing investigation.
The judge set bail for her at $3 million.
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