The man accused of killing a 9-year-old Tampa girl earlier this year pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday during an arraignment.
Granville Ritchie was charged in August with first-degree murder, capital sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in the death of Felecia Williams. He had already been jailed on unrelated charges.
Felecia's nude body was found May 17 in the water north of Courtney Campbell Causeway. Temple Terrace police had been investigating the crime since then and Ritchie had been their prime suspect.
Authorities say there is evidence tying Ritchie to the crime.
Investigators say that on the afternoon of May 16, Ritchie and Eboni Wiley, a friend of Felecia's family, picked up the girl from her east Tampa home and drove her to the apartment on the 8900 block of Tanglewood Lane. Around 5 p.m., Wiley went out, leaving Felicia alone with Ritchie.
Wiley later told investigators Ritchie claimed Felecia had "run off."
Ritchie is scheduled to return to court in late September.