A Torrance man accused of fatally stabbing his 69-year- old mother in his apartment pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a murder charge.
Rudy DeCasas, 47, is charged in the Sept. 20 death of his mother, Rafaela DeCasas, according to Deputy District Attorney Tony Cho.
The murder charge includes an allegation that DeCasas personally used a knife.
DeCasas, along with his brother, had been taking care of his mother, who had numerous health issues, according to the prosecutor.
DeCasas’ wife returned home from work to find her mother-in-law’s body in a bedroom, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
DeCasas was also in the apartment with an injury to his neck, the prosecutor said.
He was arrested that day by Torrance police and is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.
DeCasas is due back in a Torrance courtroom Nov. 19, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
If convicted as charged, he faces up to 26 years to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
— City News Service