Eighty-plus names listed on Soria Sr. witness list

Wednesday, May 17, 2000 | 2:15 a.m.

Soria Sr., 39, was bound over May 9 for trial on the charges stemming from the death of Krystal Steadman. Prosecutors have said they may seek the death penalty.

Thomas Soria Jr., 19, pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping in Steadman's death. Under an agreement with prosecutors, he avoided a possible death sentence but faces 20 years to life in prison.

Possible witnesses, listed in a document filed Tuesday in Douglas County District Court, include 16 children identified only by their initials.

Others include Tahoe residents, a California lottery worker, and dozens of police from Douglas County, surrounding areas and Sacramento, where the Sorias lived before moving to Tahoe.

Soria Sr., a computer technician, had worked for the lottery until pleading no contest to two misdemeanor counts of making obscene phone calls and threatening to rape a female coworker and another woman. He got a 50-day work project term, to be served four days a month.

Steadman disappeared March 19 from the Stateline apartment complex where the Sorias lived. Her nude body was found a day later down a U.S. 50 embankment. A pathologist said the girl appeared to have been bound and beaten, and her throat was cut.

Soria Sr. is to be arraigned June 6 in District Court. His son is to be sentenced in July.