Former Bothell council member pleads not guilty to murder of 20-year-old woman

KING COUNTY, Wash. — The former Bothell City Council member accused of murdering a young woman inside her home late last month pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday afternoon.

James McNeal, Jr. was found covered in blood inside the home of 20-year-old Liliya Guyvoronsky on April 30. Guyvoronsky was found dead in an upstairs bedroom, and, according to court records, McNeal called his attorney first who then reported “what is a likely homicide” to police.

Some of Guyvoronsky’s friends were in court Tuesday morning as McNeal pleaded not guilty. They told KOMO News they were there to make sure Guyvoronsky was not forgotten and her alleged killer was held accountable.

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"No one deserved to murdered, she was a human and we’re going to make sure he knew that," Madison Darner, who's known Guyvoronsky since childhood, said. "It’s just another story of wealth and power getting the best of a situation from someone who’s just as valued and cared for in the community."

McNeal is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Guyvoronsky, who also went by Lily.

McNeal appeared in King County Superior Court for the first time Tuesday, but did not speak during the short hearing as one of his attorneys entered a not guilty plea for him. McNeal's attorney made a motion to not allow the media to film McNeal and also made a motion to allow McNeal to appear at future court appearances in civilian clothing instead of jail-issued clothing arguing for his client's presumption of innocence, but both motions were denied by the judge.

McNeal was found in bloody clothing with wounds that appeared to be self-inflicted at the victim’s home on the 4600 block of South Orchard Street on April 30. Cell phone video from a neighbor shows McNeal being wheeled away on a gurney by first responders during his arrest.

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Investigators are still awaiting autopsy results to determine when Guyvoronsky died and how she was killed. However, based on the preliminary investigation and evidence at the scene, it appears she was suffocated, and investigators believe, at this point, she died sometime between April 28, when neighbors last reported seeing her, and April 30 when she was found.

"We have no idea who Miss Guyvoronsky may have been in contact with in those three days, but it certainly puts at issue the identity of the person who is culpable in this case," Alexander Bernstein, one of McNeal's attorneys, said in court Tuesday.

The victim’s friends told KOMO News she and McNeal met at a strip club she was working at and had been dating on and off since last year.

“I know that the media and the news coverage portray her as broken and troubled, but she was young, she was 20 years old, she was a young woman learning the ins and outs of life and how hard it can be and how life really is, that’s hard,” said Darner.

Darner added Guyvoronsky was involved in her Slavic community and her church and was also studying to become a realtor at one point.

“She was beautiful inside and out, she had a heart of gold,” Darner said. “Her compassion and her kindness showed in so many ways throughout her life.”

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The victim's friends also say they hope her story highlights the dangers of working in the industry and domestic violence cases.

"It can be dangerous, this world, and I think the advice I would give is know that your heart’s in the right place, the right spot," Darner said.

McNeal, meanwhile, is currently being held on $3 million bail and has been ordered to not have any contact with the victim’s family or leave the state without the court's permission. McNeal's next court date is set for June 4, and a tentative trial date has been set for July 8.

Guyvoronsky’s loved ones plan to hold a vigil at her home Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. KOMO News will have a crew there to bring you the latest updates.