Man Pleads Not Guilty to Beating Death, Dumping Body Off 105 Freeway

A transient pleaded not guilty today to fatally beating a man whose body was found in a shallow grave along the westbound Glenn Anderson (105) Freeway.

Bryan Allen Petty, 22, was charged with murder Thursday in the April 1 death of a man whose name has not been confirmed.

Petty, suspected of using a length of pipe to kill the man, is due in court May 29, when a date for a preliminary hearing may be set.

A California Highway Patrol officer notified Downey police about the body April 14.

Coroner's investigators removed the body from the freeway shoulder, west of Lakewood Boulevard. Though authorities believe they know who the man was, his name is being withheld until it can be confirmed by matching dental records.

Petty is homeless, according to Downey police.

It was unclear how police linked Petty to the body. He was arrested Tuesday and jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.