Suspect pleads not guilty to gruesome Mililani murder

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The suspect accused in the gruesome murder of a 21-year-old woman pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday.

Samuel Jones, 25, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree arson following the discovery of a body in a burned-out car in Mililani.

He is accused of killing Jordan Laulusa and then setting the car she was in on fire at a Mililani High School parking lot.

Authorities say she died from a stab wound to her neck. His bail was set at $1 million.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Court docs: Suspect in Mililani murder smelled of burned plastic, had blood on ankle
• Suspect charged with murder after woman’s body found in burned-out car
• Suspect arrested for murder after body discovered inside burned-out car at Mililani High parking lot
• Memorial grows for woman whose body was found in burned-out vehicle

This story will be updated.

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