‘Not guilty’ pleas entered in Post Falls double homicide

A judge entered not guilty pleas today for a man charged with murder in the strangulation of his wife and her little girl in their Post Falls apartment July 8. Angel Albertico Morales-Larranaga, 24, chose to remain silent when 1st District Judge Fred Gibler asked for his plea. Gibler then entered a “not guilty” plea to both counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Facunda Velenzuelaleon, 24, and Dayana M. Valencia, 6. Morales-Larranaga, who is from Mexico, is being held in the Kootenai County Jail on $2 million bail. An interpreter translated Thursday’s court proceeding for him. Post Falls police arrested Morales-Larranaga in his SUV at Spokane Street and Poleline Avenue after a friend of his called to report he had confessed to the killings at Tullamore Commons on East Laurelbrook Drive. The Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty in the case, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jedediah Whitaker told Gibler. The judge granted an extension to make that decision.