Man pleads not guilty in death of 5-year-old girl

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A man charged with the capital murder of 5-year-old Ja-Naya Thompson of Gulfport has pleaded not guilty.

Alberto Garcia was arraigned Friday before Judge Lisa Dodson in Harrison County Circuit Court.

The Sun Herald reports (https://bit.ly/1Wo2Vge) Garcia is being held with no bond. Dodson set a tentative trial date of July 18.

The state will seek the death penalty.

Thompson disappeared from The Palms apartments on July 16, 2014, prompting a massive search including help from volunteers.

She was found dead the next morning in a vacant mobile home near her family’s apartment.

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Information from: The Sun Herald, https://www.sunherald.com