Suspect Arraigned in Slaying : Simi Valley: The transient pleads not guilty to killing a Blue Cross employee in his condominium.

A 22-year-old transient pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and robbery charges in the shooting death of a Blue Cross insurance employee in Simi Valley last week.

Oscar Rudolfo Barrascout was arraigned in Ventura County Municipal Court on charges that he killed 37-year-old Gregory D. Minor last Friday at Minor’s condominium.

Judge Thomas J. Hutchins ordered Barrascout to be held in the county jail on $1-million bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 7.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn said authorities still haven’t determined a motive in Minor’s slaying.

“We wish we knew,” Glynn said. “It looks like a robbery gone sour,” because police recovered some of Minor’s belongings from Barrascout, Glynn said.

Besides murder and robbery, Barrascout is charged with burglary and using a weapon. Glynn said the burglary and robbery charges are considered special circumstances that would allow Barrascout to face the death penalty or life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

Simi Valley Detective Sgt. Tony Harper said Barrascout saw a for-sale sign in the window of Minor’s white Corvette and visited Minor’s home Friday afternoon to talk to him about the car.

Minor’s companion, Donna Richardson, returned home at 7:45 p.m. and searched the home with a neighbor, finding Minor’s body under the bed in the master bedroom.

The county coroner’s office later ruled that Minor had been shot twice in the head with a .22-caliber gun between 4:30 and 7:45 p.m. on Friday.

Barrascout was arrested early Saturday morning at his van a mile from Minor’s condominium. Barrascout, a Hollywood native, had been sleeping in the van for several nights before the shooting, Harper said.