PORT ANGELES — Moises Ramirez Matias, who is accused of murdering 18-year-old Laranda Konopaski of Forks, is scheduled to go to trial March 12.
The trial was set Friday in Clallam County Superior Court after Ramirez Matias pleaded not guilty to first-degree premeditated murder.
It could last up to two weeks.
Ramirez Matias, a 25-year-old Guatemalan citizen who used an interpreter, remained in the Clallam County jail as of Saturday.
His bail is set at $2 million.
If convicted, Ramirez Matias could be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
A detainer also has been placed on him by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Ramirez Matias, who is in the country illegally, had been deported once before re-entering the country, authorities have said.
Ramirez Matias allegedly stabbed Konopaski, the mother of his child, to death Jan. 8 in their Forks home.
Their 4-year-old daughter phoned 9-1-1 after seeing her mortally wounded mother.
Child dialed 9-1-1
The child told authorities that her parents had been arguing.
When police arrived at the trailer, they said they found bloodstains “from one end to the other” and a bloodstained kitchen knife on the bed in the master bedroom.
Konopaski was pronounced dead after being taken to Forks Community Hospital.
Ramirez Matias, who also uses the alias Dario Ramirez Moises, was arrested without incident Jan. 11 on Merchants Road in Forks.
Mariah, the daughter, was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.
A public graveside service for Konopaski was held last Monday at Mount Angeles Memorial Park.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.