Man accused of murdering missing teen back in court

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) - The man accused of murdering a missing teen was back in court Monday for a preliminary hearing setting.

51-year-old Abraham Feinbloom pleaded not guilty in connection to the disappearance and death of 17-year-old T'neya Tovar.

According to our reporter, who was at Feinbloom's latest court appearance, Tovar's mother saw Feinbloom for the first time.

Our reporter also said Tovar's father and an investigator were also present during the court appearance.

Prior to Monday's court appearance, Feinbloom's attorney, Melanie Roe, released a statement saying she has received over 20 discovery packets from the Imperial County District Attorney's Office.

The discovery packets, according to Roe, contained the following documents:

• The police reports of law enforcement agencies, which includes the Imperial and Riverside County offices and the FBI
• Forensic/lab reports which includes the autopsy findings
• Numerous search warrants

In the statement, she said, "There are no forensic findings conclusively establishing the discovery of human blood from any item seized" from Feinbloom's home and/or his vehicles, and said the rest of Tovar's remains have not been found.

In addition, Roe said the prosecution's forensic experts could not determine the cause or manner of death, even though one of them found a gunshot wound to the knee, and could not determine the date of when Tovar died.

"The government's case against Mr. Feinbloom is so thin that without more, they will be unable to prove Mr. [Feinbloom's] guilt beyond a reasonable doubt for many reasons," Roe expressed in her statement.

Feinbloom will be back in court on April 28, where it will be determined if there is enough evidence to establish probable cause and hold him for trial.