RAPID CITY, S.D.(KBHB) – A New York man charged in three murders here in South Dakota pleaded not guilty before Seventh Circuit Court Judge Robert Gusinsky Tuesday.
Arnson Absolu, 36, is accused of killing 29-year-old Ashley Nagy, 26-year-old Charles Red Willow and 22-year-old Dakota Zaiser.
Nagy and Red Willow were found dead of gunshot wounds in a car on August 24th and the body of Zaiser was found in a forested area north of Sheridan Lake on September 22nd.
Timothy Rensch, an attorney representing Absolu, requested state attorneys to decide whether they will pursue the death penalty within a 45-day time frame. The judge granted the request, giving the state until March 30th to make a decision.
If prosecutors decide not to pursue the death penalty, Absolu could face life in prison and a $50,000 fine for each murder count.
Judge Gusinsky also signed a no-contact order against the New York man, barring him from speaking to family members of the victims and witnesses associated with the case.