Murder suspect Giselle Esteban appeared in Alameda County Superior Court Monday on the charge that she killed nursing student Michelle Le, but her plea entry was postponed because she hasn't yet finalized her legal representation.
Le, 26, disappeared on May 27 from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward.
Two weeks ago, Esteban, a 27-year-old Union City woman, was charged with the murdering Le even though Le's body hadn't been found.
Prosecutors said DNA evidence and cellphone records were sufficient to connect Esteban to Le's death.
On Saturday, volunteers found a body in an unincorporated area between Pleasanton and Sunol where authorities believe Le had been, based on cellphone records.
However, Hayward police said it could take at least a week to identify the body. The Alameda County Sheriff's department said late Monday that early indications show the remains are female.
Defense attorney Andrea Auer appeared in court on behalf of Esteban, but she told Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gary Picetti that it has not been determined whether she will represent Esteban.
She told NBC Bay Area that Esteban is "coping' with the situation. Both Esteban and Le's family members left without making a comment.
Picetti granted Auer a delay and ordered Esteban to return to court on Sept. 28 to finalize her legal representation and possibly enter a plea.
