Suspect in double homicide pleads not guilty

Joseph Hayden Simlick pleaded not guilty today to two charges of homicide and one charge of false imprisonment.

Sutter County Sheriff's Capt. Lewis McElfresh said after the hearing that Simlick 21, falsely imprisoned a daughter of alleged murder victims Jack and Susan Martin on July 25, five days before the parents were found dead in their Sutter home at 2255 Mulberry St.

Rescue personnel responded to a fire at the home Friday and found Susan Martin's body in the garage and Jack Martin's inside the residence.

Simlick, the ex-boyfriend of the Martins' youngest daughter, was arrested the next day at his residence in Loomis.

Attorney Linda Parisi of Sacramento is representing Simlick. Sutter County Judge Chris Chandler set the next court date for Aug. 18 to schedule a preliminary hearing for Simlick.

About 50 friends and family of Simlick attended the hearing, and slightly fewer for the Martins. Chandler ordered that Simlick continue to be held without bail. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty, Chandler said.