A 36-year-old Long Beach man, who’s accused in the beating death of his fiancee at their Lakewood Village apartment last month, pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge.
Colin Chandler Wolters, who is being held on $2 million bail, is charged with the March 16 killing of 27-year-old Chelsea Smith.
He was ordered to return to the Long Beach courthouse on June 3, when a date is expected to be set for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Long Beach police found the victim unresponsive when they responded to a call about a possible suicide at the couple’s residence in the 4600 block of Whitewood Avenue around 8:30 p.m. March 16. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene by Long Beach Fire Department personnel.
Chandler immediately surrendered to officers.
If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.