Man pleads not guilty to death of woman whose body parts were in fire pit

A man pleaded not guilty this week to killing a woman whose burned body parts were found by Bakersfield detectives in a fire pit and a nearby motor home.

Alejandro Leon, 30, pleaded not guilty Monday to murder in the death of Evelynn Chuca, 30, whose body parts were discovered May 12, according to the Kern County district attorney’s office.

The details of the discovery were contained in redacted Kern County sheriff’s office reports filed in court and that became available Monday, the Bakersfield Californian reported.

The reports said Leon asked a man on May 11 to follow him into the motor home, where he showed him the bloody body of a woman lying on a couch, according to the Californian. It is unclear who owned the motor home.

The man said Leon told him, “Look what I did,” according to the Californian. The man left and called 911 the next day.

On arriving at the property in east Bakersfield, detectives thought they saw a human skull in the fire pit. They also found three fingers near a burning piece of wood, the newspaper reported.

Women’s fingernails were found on the porch and inside the home, and dried blood was found on a TV. Charred body parts were found inside a tote bag, which was covered in flies, according to the Californian.

Chuca was identified by fingerprints, and an autopsy revealed she died of multiple stab wounds, according to the Californian. She had stab wounds on her lungs made by a 3- to 4-inch blade.

The newspaper reported both Leon and Chuca were described as heavy methamphetamine users, and the motive for the killing was not included.

Leon was arrested May 15 at an apartment complex. He tried to run, but was quickly apprehended, the Californian reported.

His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1, according to the district attorney’s office.

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