TORRANCE, Calif. – A suspect in a 2005 cold case has entered not guilty pleas on multiple charges tied to the death of Pertina Epps.
Charles Wright, 57, has pleaded not guilty to murder, aggravated kidnapping, and oral copulation by force charges Aug. 1 in a Torrance courtroom.
Wright was arrested Jan. 27 and bail was set initially set at $1 million.
On June 28 his bail was revoked and placed in custody as he awaits trial.
Wright was linked through his DNA and fingerprint left at the scene of the crime where a woman’s body was found dumped in a parking stall at a Gardena apartment.
Epps was 21-years-old at the time and a mother of two. According to her mother Wright was not the only suspect attached to her daughter’s murder.
“I hope they have the right person this time,” she said.
Wright told the TIMES fingerprint evidence linked to him was possibly due to his selling items.
“I didn’t do this,” Wright said. “The thing is, everybody that knows me knows that I used to sell bags and clothes out of my car … That’s the only possible way it could happen.” He said he believes people who purchased bags from him during that time period could confirm his story.
Wright was a well liked teacher with Inglewood Unified School District and taught history and math at Monroe Middle School. He was formerly employed at Leuzinger High School.
His next court date is Sept. 1.
