Man pleads not guilty in roommate’s killing

By Matt Pordum

Thursday, April 7, 2005 | 8:55 a.m.

A 57-year-old man who belatedly reported the killing of his roommate pleaded not guilty to murdering her.

Russell Nakatsuka is scheduled to stand trial on charges of murder, kidnapping, attempt robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and burglary in connection with the death of Soledad "Sally" Lancaster.

Nakatsuka went to police on Jan. 10 and told them that he didn't kill Lancaster, but simply found her dead at the apartment the two shared on 21st Street just north of Fremont Street.

He told police that after learning he was going to be evicted from the apartment he took a two-hour walk on Fremont Street. Upon returning to the apartment, he found Lancaster dead and decided to drag her body to the bedroom.

Nakatsuka also allegedly said he wiped his fingerprints off the body, rummaged through Lancaster's purse and began driving her car because he didn't feel she had any need for money or a vehicle since she was no longer alive.

Roughly 12 days after Lancaster died, Nakatsuka drove to Metro Police's South Central Area Command in Lancaster's car and told officers he wanted to report a homicide.

Detectives found an unregistered handgun in a satchel Nakatsuka carried into the station, and at his apartment they found Lancaster had been shot to death, according to the arrest report.

Nakatsuka has not said why he waited 12 days to contact authorities about Lancaster's death.