Arnaldo Cruz, of Springfield, Vt., appears at an arraignment with his attorney, Jordana Levine, at Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction, Vt., on March 21, 2017. Cruz is accused of stabbing and killing Betty Rodriguez early Monday morning at a Springfield apartment building. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Arnaldo Cruz, of Springfield, Vt., appears at an arraignment with his attorney, Jordana Levine, at Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction, Vt., on March 21, 2017. Cruz is accused of stabbing and killing Betty Rodriguez early Monday morning at a Springfield apartment building. (Valley News - Geoff Hansen) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Credit: Valley News — Geoff Hansen

White River Junction — A 53-year-old man accused of killing a Springfield, Vt., woman with whom he was romantically involved pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and another charge Tuesday afternoon.

Arnaldo Cruz was ordered held without bail by Windsor Superior Court Judge Theresa DiMauro after Windsor County State’s Attorney David Cahill said Cruz was a flight risk, based on a long criminal history, five instances of bail jumping and the tenuous connection Cruz, a lifelong resident of New Jersey, had to the area.

Cruz was arrested Monday afternoon after Springfield police found him lying face down on the ground, about 50 yards from the apartment building where Betty Rodriguez, 58, was stabbed in the neck and back. Cahill said on Tuesday that there were at least two witnesses to the attack, which he said occurred after Cruz and Rodriguez got into an argument.

Cruz was silent during his brief appearance in the courthouse. His attorney, Jordana Levine, entered his not guilty plea. Levine said she would seek an interpreter to assist in his proceedings.

Cruz was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Cahill said the lesser charge was brought because, under Vermont criminal statutes, Cruz’s record of felonies allows for a sentence that can include life imprisonment.