LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A man pleaded not guilty today to killing his mother and 6-year-old nephew and attacking his brother four days before Christmas.
David Cordoba, 26, is facing two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of 60-year-old Maria Rodas-Lemus and Alan Cordova-Robles during a family dispute last Dec. 21. He could face up to 39 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Cordoba, who is being held in lieu of $5.02 million bail, was ordered to return to court on June 21, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing.
Cordoba's mother died from multiple stab wounds and blunt force head trauma, while his nephew's causes of death were listed as asphyxia, probable smothering or strangulation and stab wounds at or near the time of his death, according to records from the coroner's office.
Cordoba is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing his brother. The father of the slain 6-year-old boy suffered minor injuries, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Officers were called about 10:30 p.m. that night to a home in the 1800 block of 11th Place, where Cordoba lived with his mother, to conduct a welfare check and found the boy and his grandmother dead, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Cordoba, who was not at the residence when police arrived, was arrested Jan. 6 at Third and Berendo streets, near Vermont Avenue, according to the LAPD.
During the manhunt for the defendant, the boy's father told a KTLA reporter that he was confronted by his brother when he came to pick up his son.
“He stabbed me in the back and I started to yell out for my mom and nobody came,'' Erick Cordova alleged. “God gave me strength to take the knife out of his hands.''
He wept as he discussed his son.
“My baby was 6 years old,'' Cordova said. “All his gifts are in the house, unopened.''
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