Kwang Chol “KC” Joy, the man accused of murdering Maribel Ramos, made his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

Maribel Ramos, a Cal State Fullerton student and Iraq War veteran, went missing three weeks ago. She was last seen May 2 on surveillance video outside of her apartment building in Orange dropping off a rent check at the leasing office. Her disappearance prompted an intense search, and her body was found in Modjeska Canyon Friday. Joy was arrested that day and remains behind bards on $1 million bail. Joy and Ramos had been roommates for 18 months before her death.

Ramos disappearance was ruled to be “suspicious” from the start by investigators, as she was known as a committed woman, involved in school events and softball. When she was a no show for a couple of events, concerns heightened. Joy, who was considered a suspect in Ramos’ disappearance before her body was even found, spoke awkwardly with investigators and reporters during the search for her body, professing his love for Ramos and calling her his “best friend” and the “only family I had.”

Prosecutors allege Joy got into a fight with Ramos after she told him to move out because he was not paying rent. Authorities suspect that there could be another motive; there could be the possibility that Joy was infatuated with Ramos.

Ramos was to graduate this week from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in criminal justice. Her neice will be receiving her degree in honor of Ramos.

Charges of criminal conduct should be taken seriously, and traversed with the help of experienced criminal defense attorneys. If you or a loved one has been charged with criminal conduct, contact the experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorneys at Brower & Associates.