A Valencia murder suspect who allegedly strangled his boyfriend to death returned to court Tuesday.

Christian Alexander Ortiz, 22, is suspected of strangling 20-year-old Brayan Rodriguez to death and hiding his body in a Valencia home in September 2017.

Rodriguez’s family said the couple had been arguing the last time the murdered man was seen. The victim’s family reported him missing on Sept. 22.

A search party was sent out to find Rodriguez. At the time, Ortiz introduced himself to a KHTS reporter as the victim’s boyfriend.

Later that day, investigators found Rodriguez dead inside Ortiz’s Valencia home.

Deputies then arrested Ortiz the following morning in connection with the murder, according to Sheriff’s Department arrest records.

Ortiz pleaded not guilty in February 2018 at the San Fernando Superior Court. If convicted, he faces a maximum life sentence in state prison.

Ortiz is currently being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in lieu of a $2 million bail.

He is scheduled to return to court on April 14 for a pretrial setting.

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