(November 11, 2004) -- The L.A. County District Attorney's office has filed murder charges that could bring the death penalty for a 22 year-old Ventura County man accused of robbing, then fatally stabbing a Bibxy Knolls area woman on November 8.

Nicholas Alexander Harvey was arraigned in LB Superior Court and is being held without bail.

He's charged with one count each of murder, second-degree robbery and first-degree residential burglary. It's alleged that the defendant used a knife to commit the crimes...and the murder count alleges that he stabbed 50-year-old Lynn Schockner to death while committing a robbery and a burglary.

"Although filed as a capital case, the District Attorney’s office will not decide whether to seek the death penalty against Harvey until he is held to answer at a preliminary hearing. When special circumstances are alleged," the D.A.'s office said in a written release.

The only two possible penalties upon conviction are death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ms. Shockner was killed at her Bixby Knolls home in the 1100 block of Andrews Dr. (between Carson St. and San Antonio Dr., and between California and Orange Aves.) at about 11:00 a.m. Monday. A neighbor saw a man get out of a car in the alley shortly before the killing and called LBPD. Police were outside the victim’s home and arrested Harvey as he fled the house. The victim’s body was found in the backyard. Her throat had been cut.

LBPD also recovered a dagger believed to be the murder weapon, along with jewelry and gloves from Harvey when he was arrested.