Suspect in Murder of Lemon Grove Woman Due in Court Tuesday

A preliminary hearing is scheduled today for a man accused of killing a female acquaintance, ambushing her as she walked home from a Lemon Grove bar where they had spent the evening together.

Casey Michael Tschida, 32, is charged with murder in the Jan. 3 death of Jennifer Krajnak.

Tschida faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted. A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing whether enough evidence was presented for Tschida to stand trial.

Deputy District Attorney Gordon Paul Davis said the defendant and the 30- year-old victim were together for about three hours at Dirk's Niteclub on Broadway beginning around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 2. Tschida left the bar at 1:30 in the morning, then returned 15 minutes later with his car's headlights off and shot Krajnak in the head as she crossed the street toward her apartment nearby, the prosecutor alleged.

Krajnak died about 30 minutes after she was discovered.   After the shooting, Tschida went to his home about seven miles away, where he collected rifles, clothing, camping equipment and his dog, then drove 20 hours to his mother's home in Happy Valley, Ore., Davis said. Once there, Tschida allegedly made comments about possible misconduct in San Diego County and checked himself into a Veterans Administration hospital, Davis said.

Tschida was taken into custody in Oregon on Jan. 5 and was extradited to San Diego to face charges.

According to sheriff's investigators, there was no relationship between the defendant and the victim other than being acquaintances.

"Apparently, they had seen each other socially once, but there was no ongoing relationship," the prosecutor told reporters

 A 9mm handgun believed to have been used in the murder was recovered in Oregon after Tschida allegedly threw it out of his vehicle, Davis said.