A man accused of strangling his on-again, off-again girlfriend at her Emerald Hills home more than 30 years ago and then fleeing the country pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder.
Alfredo Hernandez, 66, is accused in the Aug. 4, 1991, slaying of Terri Bistodeau, 39, who was found dead on the bedroom floor of her home, in the 5300 block of Geneva Avenue.
The defendant, who prosecutors say was tied to the killing by DNA and fingerprint evidence left at the crime scene, was arrested in El Salvador and extradited to San Diego this week.
Deputy District Attorney Chris Lindberg said Hernandez was suspected at the time of killing Bistodeau, but his role in the killing was later confirmed “mainly through scientific evidence,” as well as witness statements.
The case remained unsolved though investigators first took a new look in 2006. An additional investigation that included DNA testing was conducted in 2019, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and Hernandez was charged by prosecutors in 2021.
Following his arrest, Lindberg said Hernandez twice admitted to killing Bistodeau when interviewed by investigators.
He faces up to 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. He remains in custody without bail following Thursday’s arraignment.
