SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- Two illegal aliens accused of killing a young couple in their beds while their adopted baby slept ordered held without bond Thursday and a gag order was placed on the case.
Yolanda Segura, 25, who was a housekeeper for the couple and cared for their 8-month-old son, and Zohelin Diaz, 25, were held without bail in the Marin County jail pending arraignment next Tuesday.
Police have not established a motive in the Dec. 14 murders of Bill and Tasia Stephens, of Novato.
Segura and Diaz, her boyfriend, were arrested without incident late Wednesday at a Daly City motel. A night clerk recognized photographs of them on television and tipped police.
Diaz was carrying a .25-caliber automatic pistol. Ballistics tests were being conducted to determine if it was the murder weapon, Novato police Sgt. Scott Sibbold said.
Neither suspect has a criminal record, although Diaz was once arrested for trying to enter the United States illegally. The couple is believed to be from Guatemala.
Because the suspects are aliens, Sibbold said, the FBI was involved in the case but not with the homicide investigaiton itself.
Marin County Assistant District Attorney Barry Borden said he would seek charges of murder with special circumstances against the pair. If convicted, the suspects could face the death penalty.
The Stephens' adopted baby, 8-month-old Travis, remained in protective county custody at a foster home. The boy's biological mother, Tracy Madeiros, 18, of Boston, flew to California upon learning of the slayings and has petitioned for his custody.
Segura and Diaz became prime suspects based on evidence found at the home of the slain couple and at the San Rafael apartment the suspects shared, police said.
Marin County Municipal Judge Vernon Smith barred reporters and photographers from the courtroom during the brief hearing and said he would consider lifting the gag order after the Dec. 27 arraignment.
Deputy Public Defender Gaile O'Connor was assigned to defend Diaz and fellow deputy Les Rosen was named to handle Segura's defense.
