Valley murder trial for couple charged in Jane ‘Cordova’ Doe case postponed
August 22, 2008 - 9:00 pm
The trial for the couple accused of killing a toddler and dumping her body in a trash bin was postponed for a week because of a scheduling conflict.
District Judge Michelle Leavitt agreed to push back the trial of Marc Anthony Colon, 30 and Gladys Perez, 26, until Aug. 28. Their trial was set to start Thursday.
The couple is accused of killing 3-year-old Crystal Figueroa, the daughter of Perez.
Crystal, dubbed Jane "Cordova" Doe, was found dead in a trash bin at the Fountains at Villa Cordova apartments on Eastern Avenue near Sahara Avenue in January 2006.
Crystal died from blunt-force trauma and showed previous signs of abuse, authorities said.
Crystal's identity was unknown for six weeks until police received a tip from a woman in Tulare County, Calif., who called to report her granddaughter missing. Authorities eventually identified the dead toddler found in Las Vegas as the woman's missing granddaughter, Crystal.
Colon and Perez face multiple charges, including murder and child abuse charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Colon faces the death penalty because authorities believe he beat Crystal to death while the couple was on a trip in Las Vegas.