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Man accused of killing pregnant Lyft driver in Tempe pleads 'not guilty'

Posted at 10:39 AM, Feb 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-07 21:05:17-05

TEMPE, AZ — Fabian Durazo, the 20-year-old man accused of killing a pregnant Lyft driver on January 27, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first degree murder, armed robbery and auto theft, according to a representative from Maricopa County Superior Court.

Durazo is accused of killing 39-year-old Kristina Howato at an apartment complex at near 8th Street and McClintock Drive in the early hours of January 27.

Police say Howato was in her third trimester of pregnancy when she received a pickup request from Durazo in west Tempe.

Her baby was also lost during the incident.

According to police, Durazo allegedly stabbed Howato and stole her SUV.

He drove Howato's stolen SUV to Quartzsite, about 25 miles from the Arizona-California line, and Durazo was taken into custody four days after the alleged murder.

Durazo's Initial Pretrial Conference will be on March 22.