UPDATED: Grandson, Alleged Accomplice Plead Not Guilty to Homicide Charges in Case of Missing Murrieta Woman

This story was updated at 3:33 p.m. July 17 and again at 10:40 p.m.; first published at 12:30 p.m. July 17.

The grandson of a 71-year-old missing Murrieta woman pleaded not guilty to murder during an arraignment held Wednesday afternoon at Southwest Justice Center near Murrieta.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office had announced just after noon Wednesday that Kyle Roger McLean, 21, of Murrieta had been charged with murder in the disappearance of his grandmother, Catherine Sutton.

McLean was arrested Monday in the case of the missing woman, who authorities believe was murdered, said John Hall, spokesman for the DA’s Office, in a written statement.

Catherine Sutton was last seen Thursday, July 11 and was reported missing Sunday, according to Hall.

“Her daughter reported her missing to Murrieta police the evening of July 14, 2013, telling officers she had not seen or spoken to her mother for several days,” Hall said.

Murrieta police responded to Sutton’s home in the 27000 block of Graystone Lane in Murrieta just after 10 p.m. Sunday after receiving the call, and a 16-hour investigation ensued.

At 5 p.m. Monday, McLean was arrested by police on suspicion of killing his grandmother.

Also arrested Monday in the case was Neil Michael Erickson, 18, of Wildomar. Erickson was charged Wednesday with accessory to murder, and in the same courtroom as McLean, he pleaded not guilty.

Sutton’s body had not been located as of Wednesday, Hall said.

“Based on the evidence in this case, including evidence collected at the possible crime scene at her Murrieta home, it is believed that Sutton has been murdered,” Hall said. “No further details about that evidence will be released at this time.”

Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad declined Wednesday to elaborate on alleged evidence in the case, but said the search effort for Sutton is concentrated in Southern California.

"We are using our own department, other departments in a mutual aid effort," Conrad told Patch by phone. "Using a variety of different resources we are focused on—our search right now is limited to—Southern California."

McLean was also allegedly found in possession of a controlled substance when he was arrested Monday, though Conrad would not elaborate on that because it was part of the investigation.

The 21-year-old had been previously arrested June 24 on suspicion of felony and misdemeanor drug-related crimes, jail records showed. That arrest took place at the home he shared with his grandmother.

McLean, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Southwest Detention Center, is also facing a sentence-enhancing allegation of committing a felony while on bail.

Erickson is being held at the same jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

"The decision to arrest the suspects was based on our interviews with them, the scene of the crime and evidence located at the scene,"  Conrad told City News Service.

"It was kind of a combined missing person, check-the-welfare call," Conrad said, of the call that prompted Murrieta officers to visit the Graystone Lane home late Sunday.

Officers searched the property but could not locate Sutton.

Conditions inside the home, which Conrad declined to describe, immediately led to suspicions of foul play.

"She didn't just wander away," the lieutenant said.

The Press-Enterprise reported Wednesday that court records indicate McLean was driving around in his grandmother's car -- with her body in the trunk -- trying to decide what to do with the remains. He allegedly showed Erickson the body, the paper reported.

Both men are scheduled for another court appearance July 24. That proceeding will be a felony settlement conference—an informal discussion between the prosecution and the defense attorneys in front of a judge in which they exchange information and try to negotiate a resolution to the case—which comes before a preliminary hearing.

—City News Service contributed to this report.

Related Coverage of This Story:

• Suspects Remain Jailed In Murrieta Homicide Investigation; Body Not In Coroner's Office
• UPDATED: 2 Arrested in Disappearance of 71-Year-Old Murrieta Woman