Your trusted source

A woman charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the slaying of a Camp Pendleton Marine's wife left a suicide note before paramedics found her with self-inflicted wounds, AP reported.

Jessica Lynn Lopez, 25, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of killing 22-year-old Brittany Dawn Killgore, whose body was found Tuesday in brush near a Southern California lake.

Lopez, who pleaded not guilty Thursday, was discovered with the note in a San Diego hotel room, prosecutor Patrick Espinoza said.

No further details were released about the note.

Authorities said earlier this week that paramedics hospitalized Lopez after finding her with self-inflicted cuts in the room but didn't disclose the suicide note. Within hours of finding Lopez, searchers discovered the body of Killgore.

Bail for Lopez was set at $3 million at her arraignment in Vista Superior Court, north of San Diego.

Another Marine, Louis Ray Perez, 45, remained a person of interest in the case. Investigators say he was the last person seen with Killgore.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis declined to discuss evidence or say if there were additional suspects.