A judge on Jan. 13 set a Feb. 7 preliminary hearing for a man suspected of severely injuring a man in 2023 at Paradise Point Resort who later died.

Eric Stephen Nelson, 51, reported to San Diego Police he was confronted by a man who severely beat him but was able to get himself to a local hospital on Aug. 24, 2023. Nelson died 25 days later in the hospital after the assault, police said.

Lee Orozco, 35, was charged with murder on Dec. 13, 2024, and has pleaded not guilty. On Monday, he appeared before San Diego Superior Court Judge John Pro to get the preliminary hearing date.

Orozco was arrested by police on Dec. 12 in the 900 block of Sea World Drive. He remains in jail without bail.

Nelson’s jaw and ribs were injured, and doctors discovered he had internal injuries as well, said police. The San Diego County Medical examiner determined the manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma, said police.

Nelson worked as a master stonemason for over 30 years, according to his obituary. He enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend and her grandchildren in fishing and camping in Mission Bay, the obituary reads.