San Diego

A man arrested on suspicion of killing his girlfriend, a college student who worked as a nude dancer in a local nightclub, was released Wednesday night from the County Jail after the San Diego County district attorney’s office failed to issue a murder complaint.

Lt. Gary Learn, who heads the homicide unit of the San Diego Police Department, said the investigation continues into the stabbing death of Tiffany Paige Schultz, 20. He said Christopher James Burns, 28, who lived with Schultz at a Clairemont apartment where her body was found early Saturday, remains a prime suspect.

“We have no other suspects at this point in time,” Learn said. “We have some additional work to do, and, in the meantime, he has been released from custody. We’ve discussed the case at length with the district attorney, and the decision at this time is not to issue a murder complaint.

“Let’s just say,” Learn added, “that there’s a big difference between probable cause and proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Schultz was the daughter of a member of the Board of Supervisors in Nevada County, Calif. She had been attending San Diego State University, where friends said she was majoring in English in hopes of becoming a college professor.

Since last summer, she had been dancing at Les Girls, a nightclub specializing in nude entertainment near the San Diego Sports Arena.

Police said they received a call early Saturday from Burns, who reported finding Schultz’s body on the floor of their apartment in the 3100 block of Cowley Way. After questioning Saturday, police arrested Burns.