Ten years after Oregon girl murdered, suspect pleads not guilty

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The suspect in the murder of a Southern Oregon 14 year old, Stephanie Condon, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder.

Dale Wayne Hill, 39, entered his plea Monday morning in a Douglas County, Ore., circuit courtroom in front of Judge Joan Seitz.

Hill faces aggravated murder in connection with the death of Stephanie Condon, who disappeared from a home in the Tri-City area of Oregon October 1998.

Her remains were finally found earlier this year in a remote area south of Glide, in an area close to Hill's parents' property.

Hill told the judge, "Not Guilty," when asked how he pleaded.

The trial date was set a year and an half out because the defense attorneys didn't feel they could be ready next summer.

Marty Condon, Stephanie's father, anticipates a motion for change of venue. "It doesn't matter, I mean, whatever comes up we'll deal with. I mean, we figured that was going to happen as well. That don't mean it will be granted but the impact of Stephanie is all over the state, so I don't think it really matters as much as they may think so. There's people that have contacted us from all over the place that was into it, not just Douglas County, so I don't think it's going to make a big difference whether they get it or not."

Marty says they've found some peace now that Stephanie's remains were discovered. "After 10 years we thought that we'll die of old age without finding her, and we're above that. So, we actually found some peace in a strange way."

The trial is set for Feb. 15, 2011, which would be after Judge Seitz's term runs out. She does not plan to run again, so there would have to be a new judge appointed to the case at that point.

Oct. 30 will be the 11th anniversary of the disappearance of Stephanie.