Arraignment delayed for suspected murderer
Authorities add charge of rape

The arraignment date for a 19-year-old Simi Valley man charged with the stabbing murder of his aunt has been continued to later this month.

Luis Gutierrez, who was arrested on March 19 following an investigation into the murder of 44-year-old Josefina Lanuza Gutierrez, will appear at the Ventura County Courthouse at 1:30 p.m. on April 25, said Dep. District Attorney Rameen Minoui.

Just before 8 a.m. on March 16, a relative found the victim- the wife of Abel Gutierrez and a mother of three- dead inside her bedroom in the 800 block of Moffatt Circle.

Simi police arrested Luis Gutierrez three days later.

Minoui said the suspect is being charged with murder, murder while engaged in rape and use of a deadly weapon.

He is being held without bail at the Ventura County Main Jail.

According to court records, the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service has placed a hold on Gutierrez, who came to America legally and moved in with his aunt and her family a year ago.

Minoui would not provide further details about the case, except that the continuance of the arraignment was requested by the defense.

- Darleen Principe