Man accused of killing girl in 1994 pleads not guilty

A man accused of killing a 7-year-old girl and dumping her body in a trash bin 15 years ago pleaded not guilty in District Court Thursday.

The Clark County district attorney's office "will be seeking the death penalty" against the defendant Gregory Wallen, prosecutor Robert Daskas said.

Wallen faces one count each of murder and sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14 in the slaying of Diana Hernandez, who was reported missing April 2, 1994. Her body was found the next day in a trash bin at the apartment complex where she lived near Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway.

Las Vegas police said Wallen was linked to the slaying through DNA samples from Diana's body and a partial fingerprint on a cardboard box where her body was found.

In June, police arrested Wallen in Pahrump. The 37-year-old is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.

Wallen served several years in a Nevada prison for a lewdness with a minor conviction stemming from a 1992 incident involving a 4-year-old girl in Nye County.

A trial date will be set by Judge Elissa Cadish on Monday.

Forensic evidence is expected to play an essential role in the trial.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.