Troy

In taped interviews with police, Gabriel Vega denied that he had anything to do with the murder of a Lansingburgh woman who was pregnant with his child.

During a bail hearing Friday, First Assistant District Attorney Carmelo Laquidara presented to Rensselaer County Court more evidence against Vega, who was indicted two weeks ago in the April killing of Vanessa Milligan, 19.

Assistant Public Defender William Roberts told Judge Andrew Ceresia that prosecutors have no hard evidence Vega killed his former girlfriend and set her house on fire, allegedly to cover his crime.

"We are asking for reasonable bail because there is a lack of specific evidence against my client in this case," Roberts told Ceresia.

Laquidara said that prosecutors had physical and scientific evidence tying Vega to the crime as well as witness statements and eyewitness accounts although Vega, 18, did not incriminate himself during the police interrogation.

"But we have evidence that will show that Mr. Vega was not being forthcoming to police during those interviews," Laquidara said.

The prosecutor also said Vega made at least one incriminating statement to police. That statement was not released Friday. Laquidara later refused to describe Vega's comments, only to say they were "memorialized" in a witness or police deposition.

Roberts later said prosecutors apparently believe that Vega did not want the baby and that he and Milliagan argued about it.

"But they have no evidence to back that up," Roberts said.

Ceresia denied the bail application and Vega was returned to jail.

During Friday's hearing, Milligan's father, Nate Milligan, tried to make eye contact with Vega.

"I'll be here every time he appears in court and I'll be trying to make eye contact with him," Milligan said. "After he (Vega) was arrested he was blowing kisses from behind a police car window and thought he had a couple of big-shot lawyers during his arraignment. He's starting to realize now how serious his troubles are."

Firefighters found Vanessa Milligan's badly burned body when they went to her home to battle a fire. Investigators have said a witness saw a man running from the residence.

Vega could serve life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of first-degree murder. Additionally, he is charged with second-degree murder, burglary and arson. He also is accused of causing an abortion in the death of Milligan's unborn daughter

bgardinier@timesunion.com • 518-454-5696 • @BobGardinier