Suspect In Dalene Carlson Murder Pleads Not Guilty

STOCKTON (CBS13) – The man arrested for the murder of Dalene Carlson has finally entered a plea in the case.

Jason Gilley, 26, entered a not guilty plea in a Stockton court Tuesday morning. Gilley is facing charges of murder, kidnapping, rape and using a gun to cause great bodily injury.

Carlson had been missing for more than two months before her body was found in an Escalon field in October. A farm worker discovered her dumped body in a corn field.

Dalene vanished after leaving Finnegan's Bar in early August.

Gilley was arrested for kidnapping Dalene shortly after her disappearance but was let go because there was not enough evidence.

Gilley first told police they parted ways at the pub, but he later admitted that the two had gone to his home, had sex, got into an argument and Carlson left on foot.

Gilley told police he followed her in his car, picked her up and drove her 40 miles south, dropping her off at an undisclosed location.