A man accused of running over a City Heights woman and leaving her to die faced a San Diego judge for the first time Monday.
Marco Antonio Gutierrez pleaded not guilty to hit-and-run with injury and assault with a deadly weapon in the death of 29-year-old Jazmine Leigh Ruiz.
Ruiz died April 20 after she was stabbed in the neck and run over by a car, San Diego Police said.
Her body was found in the west alley near Wilson Avenue. Homicide detectives believe the car was used as a weapon to kill the victim after a physical assault.
Ruiz' body was dragged 15 to 20 feet underneath the car, Deputy District Attorney David Bost said in court Monday when asking that bail be increased to $250,000.
Judge David Szumowski agreed to increase the bail and held co-defendant Christina Daniel without bail.
Daniel is accused of stabbing Ruiz in the neck and jugular, probably inside the same car used to run her over by a second suspect, prosecutors said.
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Daniel has a long criminal history including allegations of attempted murder as well as convictions in auto theft and carjacking. She has pleaded not guilty to murder in this case.
Szumowski ordered the news media not to show either defendant's face.
If convicted, Gutierrez faces approximately eight years.
A third suspect is still sought in Ruiz' death. No motive was discussed in court Monday.
