Man accused in stabbing pleads not guilty

FARWELL — The man accused of stabbing a woman to death last month in Bovina entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday in Parmer County Court.

Michael Orozco, 41, waived his arraignment appearance and pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder, for which he was indicted Aug. 27. Orozco is accused in the Aug. 5 slaying of Erica Sanchez, 30, who was found dead that morning in her residence on the 300 Block of Ave. K in Bovina.

Court records show "a protective order was issued on (July 9) in Muleshoe, Texas, against Orozco, with Sanchez as the protected person."

Sanchez has three children and moved into the Ave. K residence in the month prior to her death, according to the Bovina Housing Authority manager.

Orozco's attorney Roderique Hobson told The News there was not yet another court date scheduled for his client and that they were still awaiting discovery on the case.

Orozco remained Saturday in the Parmer County Jail in lieu of a $500,000 cash or surety bond.

"No other persons were located inside the residence," during the homicide investigation, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Orozco was located Aug. 5 in Muleshoe and "identified ... as being medically sedated, due to a possible drug overdose," records show. Police found blood on his clothing and text messages to his sister "referencing a murder involving Sanchez" on the morning of Aug. 5.

"Part of this text message read, 'sorry am marked as a murder but Erica was everything and played me...'," according to the arrest complaint.

Orozco was booked Aug. 7 in the Parmer County Jail after a period of medical evaluation.

Sanchez' family told The News last month they were still trying process what had happened.