Gary D. Lee pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of first-degree murder, residential burglary, theft of property over $10,000 and robbery.

Lee, 30, of Carbondale was arrested Jan. 18 for the Jan. 16 stabbing death of SIUC alumna and Unity Point Elementary School teacher Ellen Drake. If convicted of the murder charges, Lee could be sentenced to death.

Drake’s body was found in her Carbondale home by a relative early Jan. 18. Police arrived at 3 a.m. and determined that a possible homicide had taken place because of the wounds Drake sustained.

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A phone call traced to a cellular phone taken from Drake’s home led police to Lee, who was arrested in Memphis, Tenn., driving Drake’s 1998 Toyota Camry.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Mike Wepsiec made a request for samples of Lee’s blood, hair and saliva at the arraignment to check them against evidence found at the Drake’s home Jan. 18.