36-year-old José Adan Gallardo pleads not guilty to 10 felony charges

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) – In Yuma Superior Court Tuesday morning, Jude Darcy Weed said a jury trial will begin on July 19 and will continue until August 3.

Jose Adan Gallardo, 36, was charged in December 2022 with 10 felony counts, including first-degree murder of his 19-year-old son Mario Nez.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office said it answered multiple calls on Dec. 12 about bodies lying on the side of Interstate 8 at Mile Marker 65 near Daytland.

The corpse is later identified as Mario Nez.

More than 10 hours after officers were on the scene, law enforcement arrested Gallardo with the help of a helicopter in the desert near Mohawk Pass after fleeing the scene.

Gallardo and Nez lived in the Phoenix area, but they were on their way home from California following an alleged murder in Yuma County, according to a social media post posted by the family.

While being charged with first-degree murder, Gallardo also faces felony DUI and kidnapping counts.

At a February hearing, Gallardo’s public defender said the state had not offered any plea bargain in the matter.

The case will go to trial as Gallardo maintains a plea of ​​not guilty.

A pretrial management meeting is scheduled for June 13.