ORLANDO, Fla. – A trial date was set Tuesday for the man accused of raping and killing an Orlando woman in 2015, officials said.
Court officials said Stephen Duxbury's case is set to go to trial Nov. 13.
Duxbury faces charges in the killing of Sasha Samsudean, 27, who was found dead in her apartment at Uptown Place on North Orange Avenue, the complex where Duxbury worked as a security guard, according to Orlando police.
Samsudean had gone out with friends on a Friday night before safely arriving home, police said. When friends could not reach her the next day, they reported her missing. Police said they went to Samsudean's apartment and found her body in her bed, with no signs of forced entry.
According to the report, Duxbury sexually battered and strangled Samsudean before rolling her body up in her comforter with bleach poured on it to hide DNA evidence.
"As a security guard, he used his access to prey on someone who is very vulnerable," said Orlando Police Chief John Mina.
Samsudean's family filed a lawsuit last month against Uptown Place Condominiums, the company that made the lock on her apartment door, and the security company that hired Duxbury.
The victim's family alleges that Duxbury was able to gain access to Samsudean's apartment by hacking the Kwikset digital deadbolt after “running internet searches on his smartphone” minutes before Sasha was killed, according to court records.
The company sent the following statement to News 6:
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the Samsudean family. We stand behind the security of our locks, put our customers’ safety first, and are dedicated to a complete investigation of this matter,” said David A. Prichard, Vice President, Corporate Communications, for Spectrum Brands Holdings.
Her family is also suing Vital Security, which hired Duxbury as a security guard, because the suspect had a criminal history and mental health issues, lawyer Richard Newsome wrote in the complaint.
The company's attorney said the company extends their condolences and sympathy to the family.
If convicted on rape and attempted murder charges, Duxbury will face a life sentence.
Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates in this case.