A preliminary hearing has been rescheduled to March 30 for the estranged husband of a woman whose body was found in a burned-out car last year in a parking lot on UC San Diego’s campus.
Julio Angel Garcia-Puente, 50, is charged with murder and arson in the death of Lorena Gonzalez, 38. The preliminary hearing was initially scheduled for today, but a prosecution witness was unavailable.
Prosecutors allege that Garcia killed his wife, a Carlsbad resident, on Oct. 30, before she was found in a burning car off Voigt Drive near Genesee. Autopsy results determined the woman was a homicide victim. The autopsy results are sealed and prosecutors have not revealed the cause of death.
Garcia faces 26 years to life in prison if convicted, said Deputy District Attorney Nicole Rooney.
City News Service contributed to this report.
