Santa Cruz County 2003 murder suspect makes first court appearance

Miguel Loza, the man suspected of attacking two teenagers and killing one of them at a vacant preschool in 2003 sat before a Santa Cruz County judge today.

Loza has reportedly been on the run from law enforcement for more than 16 years.

Investigators say they believe he’s responsible for the death of 17 year old Jessica Sheridan and the sexual assault of another girl.

Shortly after the crimes on Feb 10, 2003 investigators say Loza fled to Mexico.

This week he was arrested in Mexico City and brought back to the U.S. after more than a decade of work to bring him here.

He sat and spoke calmly to the Santa Cruz County Judge as Sheridan’s friends and family wept in the courtroom.

Sheridan’s best friend, Amber Echeverria, said she met Loza once when he and Sheridan were dating and immediately got a bad feeling.

“I don’t know exactly what he was like, but from what I met of him I didn’t like it and I tried to tell her, but that was her boyfriend and after that this happened,” said Echeverria.

Loza pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges including murder and several sexual assaults.

Sheridan’s younger sister, Serenity, said she never thought she’d see him in front of her, but she’s glad it was in handcuffs. “His eyes were very dark, I’m terrified of him, He’s definitely the boogieman to me,” said Serenity Sheridan.

Outside of justice, friends and family say they want answers. “Just why, why did he do that? I wanna know just why,” said Echeverria.

The District Attorney’s Office is seeking life without the possibility of parole for Loza.

His next court appearance is scheduled for July 12th 9 a.m.