Man Accused of Murdering Ingrid Lyne Pleads Not Guilty

John Charlton, in red, appeared in court today to enter a not guilty plea in the murder of Ingrid Lyne. HG

John Robert Charlton, the 37-year-old man charged with murdering and dismembering a 40-year-old Renton woman earlier this month, has pleaded not guilty to murder and vehicle theft. Ingrid Lyne, a nurse and mother, went missing earlier this month after a date. Her remains were first found in a recycling bin in the Central District.

Slain Renton nurse Ingrid Lyne's family: "A light went out of our lives forever" https://t.co/coT9aQY8JO pic.twitter.com/HgSxOssLxR

— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) April 13, 2016

In King County Superior Court this morning, Judge Julie Spector increased Charlton's bail from $2 million to $5 million and partially sided with Charlton's defense attorneys, who are worried that significant media coverage of the case could spoil his changes at a fair trial.

Ahead of today's arraignment, Charlton's attorneys asked the court to allow him to appear in civilian clothes and to prevent the media from showing his face. Defense attorneys argued that allowing photos of Charlton's face to be published could not only threaten a future jury trial, but could also prejudice future photographic line ups.

Robin Fox, a representative from the county's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, argued allowing Charlton to appear in civilian clothes would make him harder to find if he escaped. "At this point we all know very little about him, his psychological state, and his other capabilities," Fox said.

Spector sided with the defense in part, ordering reporters not to show his face but denied their request about civilian clothes. Charlton is expected back in court on May 11. Members of Lyne's family declined to comment at the courthouse today.