Suspected shooter in ‘execution-style’ killing of Quincy woman pleads not guilty

The suspected shooter, who is among five men charged with what the Grant County Sheriff has called an execution-style killing, appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty.

Gustavo Tapia Rodriguez, 39, was arraigned in Grant County Superior Court on the charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the Dec. 22 slaying of 31-year-old Jill Sundberg of Quincy.

Her body was found Dec. 22 off Old Vantage Highway near a popular hiking area. Investigators found 13 shell casings and someone had stuck a sign to Sundberg’s back with a knife.

Along with Rodriquez, charged with first-degree murder are Julio Albarran Varona and Ambrosio Mendez Villanueva, both 25. In addition, Salvador Espinoza Gomez, 24, and Fernando Marcos Gutierrez, 34, have been charged as material witnesses.

All five suspects, who were living in George at the time, were living in this country illegally, according to officials.

Deputy Grant County Prosecutor Kevin McCrae said the judge set the trial date for April 5, but the case is expected to take much longer to get to court.