Local Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

San Bernardino, CA, September 19, 2012 – According to the San Bernardino County Court Records, murder suspect Ronald Michael Hitchcock, who was arrested on Saturday, September 15^th for the murder of Deborah Crouch, plead not guilty to murder charges and not guilty to the charges of cruelty to another’s animal.   Hitchcock was a resident of Big Bear City at the time of his arrest who resided with the victim identified as his girlfriend.  Both Crouch and her dog were found in the submerged car that crashed through the fencing at Swim Beach and into the lake last Saturday where the suspect was found at the scene.  Previous court records show that Hitchcock was charged with spousal battery on July 9^th of this year.  He plead not guilty to those charges but was convicted of disturbing the peace in the same incident.  An autopsy of Crouch is being conducted to determine the cause of death and any contributing factors to her death.  Hitchcock remains in custody at the West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $1 million.