Two man enter not-guilty pleas in slaying of man found burning in rural Bay Area field
Two West Sacramento residents charged with the murder of a Sacramento man, whose burned body was found in rural Vacaville last month, pleaded not guilty to the charge and denied all enhancements during an arraignment Monday in Solano County Superior Court.
Attorneys for Emmanual Reginald Justin, 39, and Wendy Sue Warren, 38, shackled and clad in striped jail jumpsuits, entered the pleas on their behalf during the brief afternoon proceeding in Department 11 in the Justice Center in Fairfield.
Chief Deputy Public Defender Oscar Bobrow represented Justin and Deputy Alternate Public Defender Paula Hensley represented Warren. Chief Deputy District Attorney Bruce Flynn appeared on behalf of the Solano County DA’s Office.
After hearing the defendant’s pleas, Judge William J. Pendergast assigned the case to himself and ordered Justin and Warren to return to Department 11 at 8:30 a.m. April 24 for a preliminary hearing setting.
As previously reported, Justin and Warren were arrested on March 28 on suspicion of murder in connection with the discovery of a body the previous day, a Monday, in rural Vacaville.
Callers reported a fire in a field near Elmira Road and Tulip Street, Solano County Sheriff’s officials said. Responding fire crews subsequently discovered a burned body.
Investigators determined the remains were of a man who had suffered severe head and facial injuries and burns over much of his body. Originally listed as a John Doe, the victim has been identified as Theodore Washington, 35, of Sacramento.
Using Flock Safety cameras, detectives identified a vehicle suspected to be involved in the death. Later that night, the vehicle was spotted on West Capitol Avenue and stopped by West Sacramento Police. Solano deputies responded to the scene.
The car’s occupants, Warren and Justin, were detained. Warren, officials said, had a relationship with the victim and, days earlier, with Justin’s aid, allegedly lured the victim to a West Sacramento location and killed him, waiting four days before dumping Washington’s body.
Both were arrested and booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of murder. Bail was set at $2 million each.
The Vacaville Police Department, Sacramento Police Department, and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office aided in the apprehension of Justin and Warren.
Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to call the Solano County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau, telephone 784-7050.