A man who allegedly murdered and dismembered a woman who managed the Chula Vista property where he lived pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge. Robert Lee Watkins, 41, is accused in last month’s slaying of Brenda Gillett, a 56-year-old Army veteran and nurse who managed a property owne d by her mother on Via Curvada. Previous coverage Chula Vista May 29 Family mourns Chula Vista woman killed in alleged landlord/tenant dispute Chula Vista May 28 Family IDs woman killed in Chula Vista ‘landlord-tenant' homicide case Chula Vista May 28 Arraignment postponed for man accused of killing landlord's daughter in Chula Vista May 26 Chula Vista man accused of murder after ‘landlord-tenant dispute', police say Chula Vista May 25 Chula Vista man accused of murder after ‘landlord-tenant dispute', police says Chula Vista May 25 Woman found dead following a ‘landlord-tenant dispute,' police says In court documents seeking to have bail denied to Watkins, prosecutors say Watkins claimed to police that Gillett confronted him with a hammer, prompting him to take it from her and strike her with it. He later also attacked her with a hatchet and decapitated her, he allegedly told police, then stuffed her body in a suitcase. Next, police say he told them, he took an Uber with her head in a bag and dumped it near the USS Midway, Prosecutors allege he refused to reveal where Gillett’s body was located unless he was “given a deal.” The prosecution’s motion states police were initially called to the residence at around 2:30 a.m. on May 24 because Gillett reported “her family had been recently having ongoing problems with” Watkins, including that he was “covering the cameras” and bringing over guests when he was not allowed to do so. Officers left after telling Gillett they could not assist her with eviction proceedings, nor could they force access into the home when no one answered the door, prosecutors wrote. Gillett’s sister reported her missing the following day. Responding officers found Gillett’s car parked outside the home and retrieved Ring camera footage showing Watkins disposing of a bag in a trash container, prosecutors said. After searching the container, officers found the bag, which contained a torn shirt, a “blood-saturated” towel, and a shoe that matched the pair Gillett was last seen wearing, according to prosecutors. Watkins arrived at the home while the officers were still on scene and he appeared to have “fresh scratch marks on his arm and blood on his shoes.” When officers entered the residence, they found blood throughout and “a strong odor of bleach.” Watkins was subsequently arrested. Further investigation revealed that on the morning of May 24, Watkins went to the harbor near the USS Midway, where surveillance footage captured him throwing a bag off the pier into the water, as well as throwing multiple other items into a trash can, the prosecution’s motion states. Divers who searched the area where Watkins was seen disposing of items in the water recovered a hammer, hatchet, and some of the victim’s remains, prosecutors say. A suitcase found in Paseo Del Rey Park, less than a mile from the Via Curvada residence, also contained Gillett’s remains, the prosecution’s papers state. Wendy Bonifacio, Gillett’s sister, spoke to NBC 7 at court on Thursday. “I would hate to have somebody else to have to go through this like we did,” Bonifacio said. Another sister of Brenda’s, Wendy, their brother Johnie and mother, Alva, were at court as well. The family’s matriarch did not hold back when asked her thoughts about her tenant. “He was crazy,” Alva said. “He’s worse than an animal.” For his part, Watkins was reserved during Thursday’s proceedings, keeping his head down for the duration. Deputy District Attorney Annie Sanchez said that, prior to his attempt to get rid of the body, Watkins photographed Gillett, the hatchet still embedded in her body. “He emailed himself that photograph, and on the subject line, he wrote, ‘They are going to find out what you did,’ ” Sanchez said. The gruesome details revealed in Thursday’s proceedings left Gillett’s family emotionally defeated. “It’s never going to bring my sister back, unfortunately,” Bonifacio said. “We miss her very much.” If convicted, Watkins could spend the next 26 years to life in prison. He is due back in court on June 30. With reporting by NBC 7’s Shandel Menezes and Dave Summers — Ed. ...read more read less