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Man pleads not guilty in Burlington teen’s slaying

Those who knew Johnson say he identified himself as gender fluid and believe his murder was a hate crime.
Burlington suspects

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — One of two men accused of killing a Burlington teenager has pleaded not guilty and has waived his right to a speedy trial.

The Hawk Eye reports that 22-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez waived that right at a hearing Monday at which one of his attorneys was allowed to withdraw because of a conflict of interest. Sanders-Galvez’s trial was tentatively scheduled to begin June 27, but Judge Mary Ann Brown says a new date will be set later.

Sanders-Galvez and 27-year-old Jaron Purham are accused of shooting to death Burlington High School student Kedarie Johnson. The 16-year-old’s body was found March 2 last year. Purham remains in St. Louis County Jail in Missouri, awaiting trial on unrelated charges.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the slaying.

SandersGalvez and Purham

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