A 39-year-old man pleaded not guilty yesterday to killing his girlfriend and dumping her body in Hacienda Heights, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Francisco Nila Rojas (dob 11/7/76) has been charged with one count of murder in case KA094021.

The felony complaint includes a special allegation that the defendant personally and intentionally used a deadly and dangerous weapon, a gun, during the commission of the crime, which caused great bodily injury and death.

Deputy District Attorney Babette Huley of the Victim Impact Program, who is assigned to the case, said on Feb. 11, 2011, Rojas allegedly shot his girlfriend in the head and left her body near Turnbull Canyon Road and Skyline Drive in Hacienda Heights.

Less than a month after the victim was killed, her body was discovered by a passerby, the prosecutor added.

In October 2015, Rojas was located in Mexico and extradited to Los Angeles County to face criminal prosecution for the killing. Rojas is scheduled to return to court on June 23 for a pre-preliminary hearing in Department N of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pomona Branch.

If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 50 years to life in state prison.

The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case KA094021 / May 25, 2016