A Calloway County grand jury will hear the case against the man accused of murdering a Murray State student last month who had family in Hopkinsville.
The body of 21-year old Sarah Townsend of Farmville, Virginia was found early in the morning on March 26 on Fox Road near McCuiston Drive in Calloway County. An autopsy determined Townsend died from multiple gunshot wounds.
During a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Calloway District Court, KSP Detective Trevor Pervine testified Townsend had been at a party in Murray with 22-year old Julius Sotomayor of Almo the previous night and friends said he was the last person she was seen with.
Investigation determined Sotomayor had allegedly driven Townsend’s stolen vehicle to Georgia and then returned home and Detective Pervine testified that he admitted to shooting her when confronted at his residence.
Sotomayor reportedly gave detectives a bizarre story that he shot Townsend when she wouldn’t let him take his own life.
He told detectives he tossed the gun or guns used in the killing into a river, though he didn’t know what river, according to the testimony.
Detective Pervine says the exact location of the shooting is unknown and they are not looking at anyone else as potential suspects.
The detective says friends indicated Sotomayor and Townsend were close friends who had at some point possibly dated.
Judge Randall Hutchens determined there was enough evidence a crime had been committed to send the case to the grand jury for consideration.
Sotomayor remains lodged in the Calloway County Jail, charged with murder, felony auto theft and tampering with evidence.
