Defendant Pleads Not Guilty in Murrieta Stabbing Death

A 19-year-old San Bernardino County man entered a not guilty plea today in the alleged stabbing death of an 18-year-old senior.

William Gary Simpson Jr. appeared briefly before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Elaine Johnson for his arraignment at the near Murrieta. He also pleaded not guilty to a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a burglary in the on Saskia Burke in her family's Milkwood Lane home.

The judge did not allow media to photograph when court was in session, and Simpson—wearing a red jail outfit and handcuffs—only appeared from a holding room when his case was called.

Burke's mother, father, sister, brother and other loved ones sat on the left side of the courtroom as Simpson's public defender, David Macher, entered his defendant's pleas. They quietly left the courtroom arm-in-arm after the brief deliberation.

Murrieta police said Simpson lived in the Burke home for a time in 2010. He allegedly returned in the wee hours of Dec. 20 for reasons unclear. 

Witnesses alleged the defendant snuck inside the residence and attacked Burke, stabbing her multiple times.

Simpson is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, as well as using a deadly weapon during a felony and causing great bodily injury.

Burke's father, 48-year-old Paul Burke, and 17-year-old boyfriend, Connor McCormack, were also allegedly stabbed in the chest and neck during the attack when they tried to subdue Simpson, according to reports. They are recovering from their wounds.

A following the alleged attacks. He was later tracked down at his mother's Hesperia home and arrested.

Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach will decide in the coming months whether to seek the death penalty in the case due to the special allegation of committing murder in the course of a burglary.

Simpson received a Feb. 24 court date, during which a felony settlement conference—a precursor to a trial—is scheduled to be held. He remains held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center, next door to the courthouse.

His arraignment occurred just one day after another Murrieta murder suspect, , also pleaded not guilty. Long is accused in the shooting death of Sam Vanettes, 36, at a Murrieta bar. The two killings were the first in Murrieta since January 2010, and occurred within a two-day period in the week leading up to Christmas.