Sabre Springs Double Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

A man accused of fatally shooting two people in nearby neighborhood Sabre Springs has pleaded not guilty today to murder charges that could lead to the death penalty if he's convicted.

Melchor Fonseca Marabante, 41, was ordered held without bail in the deaths last Sunday of his 23-year-old wife Valerie and her colleague and friend, 26-year-old Bernabe Villamar.

The Marabantes had been married about five years, but he had moved out of the condominium before Valentine's Day and was living with family members in Murrieta.

Deputy District Attorney Marisa Di Tillio told reporters that the defendant arrived at the condo—it's not clear exactly when—and was watching the victims from the outside before committing the murders.

"He did shoot his way into the house and executed both the victims at very close range with a 9 millimeter weapon,'' the prosecutor said. "There is some evidence that he used his 9 millimeter to shoot through the glass patio door, and then stormed into the residence, shooting Bernabe, the first victim, twice, and then chasing Valerie down and shooting her ... hitting her once, shooting at her twice.''   

According to police, neighbors reported hearing gunfire about 3 a.m. but responding officers couldn't find the source. The victims' bodies were found about 8:15 a.m. when officers were sent back to the condo.

Di Tillio said the defendant fled the scene and was arrested at hospital in Murrieta, where he was taken by family members.

Immigration investigators are looking into Marabante's citizenship status, according to Di Tillio.

Marabante is charged with two counts of murder and special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and multiple murder. District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will decide after a preliminary hearing whether the defendant will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted.

Valerie Marabante worked as a registered nurse at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa, and Villamar was a licensed vocational nurse at the prison. The defendant is also a registered nurse, but it was not clear where he worked. A prosecutor from the state Attorney General's Office filed a motion to suspend his nursing license, but Judge David Szumowski said that issue would be decided on the day of Marabante's preliminary hearing.

A status conference was set for March 7.

City News Service contributed to this report.