Ex-felon pleads not guilty in woman found in concrete case

LAS VEGAS — An ex-felon has pleaded not guilty to killing a 24-year-old adult entertainment model and encasing her body in a concrete structure found in the desert outside Las Vegas.

Christopher Santo Prestipino’s attorney, William Terry, didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to messages following their appearance in Nevada state court.

The 45-year-old Prestipino has been indicted on murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges in the death of Esmeralda Gonzalez.

Prestipino and his 39-year-old roommate, Casandra Garrett, are accused of poisoning and strangling Gonzalez in May.

Gonzalez’s body was found in October near the Interstate 15 community of Glendale.

Garrett was arrested last month in Wisconsin, where she is jailed in Milwaukee pending her extradition to Las Vegas.

Prestipino’s 31-year-old girlfriend, Lisa Mort, is due in court next month on an aiding a felon charge.

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