Long Beach man charged with murder in death of Cal State Northridge student

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KABC) -- Prosecutors have filed a capital murder charge against a 28-year-old Long Beach man in the death of a Cal State Northridge student, whose remains were found in Palm Desert last week.

Investigators found the body of 23-year-old Abdullah Alkadi near the 10 Freeway in Palm Desert Thursday night.

Alkadi had posted his Audi A6 on Craigslist for over $30,000, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said. He vanished Sept. 17 after meeting a potential buyer, who police identified as Agustin Rosendo Fernandez.

Fernandez is facing one count of murder with the special circumstances of murder during a robbery and murder during a carjacking. The complaint states that a knife was used in the crime.

"The investigation determined that Agustin Fernandez killed Mr. Alkadi in an attempt to keep both the Audi and the purchase price," Beck said.

Beck said the second person who had been arrested is no longer in custody, but remains under investigation.

Originally from Saudi Arabia, Alkadi had been in the U.S. for nearly four years. While stressing that the tragedy was not Alkadi's fault, police urged to public to be careful when selling anything online.

"Craigslist, eBay, all the other opportunities for sales are also opportunities to let unwanted people into your lives," Beck said. "This happened, not the victim's fault, but with (an) absolutely tragic, tragic outcome."

Fernandez is eligible for the death penalty due to the special circumstance allegations. He made his initial court appearance Monday afternoon. He did not enter a plea and will return for arraignment on Nov. 17.

Prosecutors will decide at a later date whether to seek death or life in prison.