The man accused of killing San Diego teen Kiera Bergman and then reporting her missing pleaded not guilty in Phoenix Friday to first-degree murder charges.
Jon-Christopher Clark, 23, the boyfriend of 19-year-old Bergman is accused of dumping her body on a rural Arizona highway.
Clark was already in custody for unrelated crimes when police found evidence linking him to Bergman’s death.
Bergman was last seen alive Aug. 4 leaving her home without her car or money. Police deemed her disappearance suspicious about a month after she disappeared.
She had moved to Phoenix in March to be with Clark, and her family had been wary of Clark since her disappearance.
Bergman’s body was found Sept. 3 by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office off state Route 85, a well-traveled route to and from San Diego from the Phoenix area.
Prior to the discovery of Bergman’s body, Clark had contacted multiple media outlets to ask for public help in securing his girlfriend’s safe return.
Clark is being held in a Maricopa County jail on $1 million bond. His next court hearing was scheduled for Oct. 17.
