By City News Service
A Burbank man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge stemming from the strangulation death of his 77-year-old mother, whose body was found in an alley near their apartment.
Moises Diaz, 40, is charged in the killing of Maria Huezo-Diaz, with whom he shared an apartment in the 4000 block of West Victory Boulevard.
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Police discovered the woman's body wrapped in blankets in the south alley in the 4000 block of West Victory Boulevard after getting a call at 10:41 a.m. Monday reporting that someone was sleeping there.
An autopsy performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office determined that the woman died from "asphyxia by neck compressions," according to Burbank police.
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Diaz, who was arrested Monday evening by Burbank police, was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.
He is due back at the Pasadena courthouse Feb. 4, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.
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