Abdullah Abdullatif Alkadi in a 2012 FB pic
PALM DESERT – The suspect charged with murdering a Cal State Northridge student from Saudi Arabia, whose body was dumped in Palm Desert, plead not guilty on Friday.
Agustin Rosendo Fernandez, 29, who is charged with murder in last year’s killing of Abdullah Abdullatif Alkadi, denies responsibility in a bizarre case involving the sale of an Audi on Craigslist.
Alkadi, who was a 23-year-old engineering student at the CSNU, disappeared September 17, 2014, from his home near the campus.
According to Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck, Alkadi had placed an Audi A6 for sale on Craigslist for more than $30,000. He was reportedly showing the car to a prospective buyer when he disappeared.
Approximately a month later, a body was discovered along Interstate 10 east of Cook Street in Palm Desert and identified as that of Alkadi. The location of the body was about 40 miles east of where Alkadi’s cell phone had last been used in Beaumont after which it was deactivated.
“The investigation determined that Agustin Fernandez killed Mr. Alkadi in an attempt to keep both the Audi and the purchase price,” the police chief said during the investigation. Police investigation revealed that Fernandez kept talking to the victim for several days about buying the car and the two had met at Alkadi’s house.
Fernandez was reportedly in possession of Alkadi’s vehicle when he was arrested in October 2014, at which time he was said to have described to police where to find Alkadi’s body.
The murder charge, which was filed in October 2014, listed allegations of murder during a robbery and murder during a carjacking. Fernandez has been charged with stealing the victim’s money and car before stabbing him to death in the desert.
Fernandez is currently jailed without bail due back in court on February 4th for a pre-trial hearing. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
