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Even by the often lurid and bloody standards of crime in Southern California's meaner streets, the bizarre case of New Zealander Stephen David Royds has raised eyebrows.
What would otherwise be a penny ante drug crime - a man accused of dealing small amounts of cocaine - achieved
instant immortality when police discovered the body of Royds' girlfriend, preserved by dry ice, in his hotel room.
It is thought Monique Trepp, 33, may have been in room 966 for a year. Police will only commit themselves to saying she was there for "quite some time". Why she was preserved remains a mystery.
After his arrest, Royds said everything happened for religious reasons. He remained silent during a court appearance on Monday, except to acknowledge that he understood the charges. He is being held in the Orange County Jail as a flight risk with bail set at $1 million.
He is due to appear in court again tomorrow for a pre-trial hearing at the Harbor Justice Centre in Newport Beach. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 20.
Trepp's fully clothed body was packed into a large plastic container and preserved in dry ice, most commonly used as a coolant or in surgery to eliminate warts.
Michelle Heston, a spokeswoman for the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel, said it had "received no complaints" about Royds, who had been a long-term guest on a reduced rate.
According to the Orange County Register Royds and Ms Trepp had been regulars for about two years at Tapas, a restaurant across the street from the Fairmont.
Arturo Flores, general manager of the Tapas, told the Register Royds told staff Ms Trepp died last April or May.
Officials are divulging little about Ms Trepp, whose name while at school was Monique Glassman.
"She was an American who grew up in the Southland [of Greater Los Angeles]," said Susan Schroeder, an official with the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
However, the Register paints a sad picture of a former cheerleader who married early, then worked as a waitress and a stripper. Wanted on several felony drug warrants in Colorado, "she picked the guys that sold drugs and could take care of her", said Robby O'Hara, a former neighbour.
Police are waiting for a toxicology report before they officially state how Ms Trepp died. Still, it is unlikely Royds will be charged with killing her.
"The coroner's office has pretty much ruled out homicide," said Sergeant Evan Sailor of the Newport Beach Police Department. "It will most likely be classified as a drug overdose."
Mr Sailor said police found about 4kg of cocaine in Royds' possessions. He is charged with sale of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell. A third charge takes into account the quantity of cocaine found.
Asked yesterday if Royds had received any consular assistance, the New Zealand Consulate in Los Angeles declined to comment and referred inquiries to Wellington.
By skipping bail in 2002 Royds faces a "crime bail crime sentencing enhancement". That is, his past crimes may get him a stiffer term this time round. Ms Schroeder says that if found guilty, Royds could be sentenced to six years' imprisonment.
