Anyssia Escamilla Search; Pregnant Calif. Teen Feared Murdered, Boyfriend Pleads Not Guilty

FONTANA, Calif. (CBS/AP) Investigators and volunteers continued to search a Southern California landfill Tuesday for the body of pregnant 17-year-old Anyssia Escamilla, as her boyfriend pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder.

Bail was set at $2 million for 18-year old Jesus Avitia, Jr., who was arraigned in San Bernardino County Superior Court, reports CBS affiliate KCAL.

The search began Monday after police say Avitia Jr. admitted that he had killed Escamilla, who was three-months pregnant with their unborn child, and then dumped her body in a trash.

"He did indicate that he was responsible for her death and had put her into a trash can after he killed her, which is what brought us here," Sgt. Billy Green said at a news conference Monday at a Rialto landfill.

Escamilla hasn't been seen since May 11, when she disappeared from Bloomington High School, where she was a junior, says The Desert Sun.

Although police have not yet released a motive for the crime or the cause of death, Escamilla's parents said Avitia's family disapproved of the relationship because she had a 3-year-old son from a previous relationship.

"She's a brave young lady who only wanted to keep her baby," her mother, Priscilla Escamilla, said tearfully.

Priscilla Escamilla had planned to help her daughter raise her two children while Anyssia pursued her education.

"That was her main goal: to finish school and get a career to help her provide for her babies," Priscilla Escamilla said.

"I think that because they are here looking for my daughter, and they know the pain that I have inside me, and they understand, and they're going to get my daughter," he said.