Elon Pendulum 8/30/11: Court papers released in Astley case. Chilling details have emerged of the hours leading up to, during and following the alleged murder of Lauren Astley July 3 at the hands of an ex- boyfriend. Astley would have arrived on Elon University's campus last week as a member of the Class of 2015. In an Aug. 23 statement from the prosecution against defendant Nathaniel Fujita, Astley is characterized as a concerned friend who reached out to Fujita, who had recently become detached from other classmates following the end of their three-year relationship in April.

WHDH.com 8/24/11: Accused Wayland teen killer held without bail. A Wayland teenager accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and dumping her body in a marshy area of town has been ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to murder and assault charges. Nathaniel Fujita, 18, was arraigned Tuesday in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, more than seven weeks after he was arrested for allegedly killing 18-year-old Lauren Astley. “Our hearts are with the many who continue to feel the shock and pain of the tragedy and to understand it as best we can,” said Dr. Malcolm Astley, Lauren’s father.

NECN 8/23/11: Nathaniel Fujita arraigned in Woburn, MA. Massachusetts teen Nathaniel Fujita charged in the murder of his former girlfriend, Lauren Astley, is being held without bail. He was arraigned today in Woburn District Court.

Wayland Patch 8/23/11: Prosecution: Strength of Case Against Wayland Murder Suspect ‘Formidable’. Nathaniel Fujita, the man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Lauren Astley in Wayland on July 3, will remain at the State House of Corrections in Billerica, held without bail following his arraignment at Middlesex Country Superior Court Aug. 23. Fujita arrived in Courtroom 430 at about 11:15 a.m. wearing khaki pants and a blue button-down shirt. He did not appear to look at his father, seated directly behind the defendant, nor did he show any emotion. Fujita spoke only to whisper pleas of not guilty to a first-degree murder charge and several assault and battery charges in connection to the murder of Astley.

Wayland Patch 8/24/11: Prosecution’s Timeline of Events in Wayland Murder.

Wayland Town Crier 8/23/11: Fujita pleads not guilty; prosecutor provides more details of murder. After breaking up with boyfriend Nathaniel Fujita, Lauren Astley went to visit him at his Wayland home July 3 in an attempt to make him feel better, a prosecutor said in Middlesex Superior Court today. "In an act of friendship, Lauren Astley reached out and said, 'Let's get together,' " prosecutor Lisa McGovern said during Fujita's arraignment. "The defendant repaid that kindness by killing her." When Fujita, 18, entered the courtroom, he did not look at his parents, Tomo and Beth Fujita. In a voice barely above a whisper, he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.

Boston Globe 8/24/11: Texts to ex-beau preceded Wayland slaying. In the final hours of her life, Lauren Astley exchanged a flurry of text messages and phone calls with her former boyfriend, Nathaniel Fujita. She wanted to talk. They decided to meet after she finished work. "Call me when you get out," Fujita wrote. Astley drove to his house. She parked near the fence so his mother wouldn’t see. Then she texted him one word: "Here." It was the last message that she ever sent. Fujita, the 18-year-old accused of murdering his former girlfriend and then dumping her body in a marsh, pleaded not guilty yesterday to a charge of first-degree murder in Middlesex Superior Court. The haunting exchange of text messages between the onetime teen sweethearts emerged at the court hearing.

WCVB 8/23/11: Case Laid Out Against Accused Teen Killer (with Video) A Wayland teen accused in the death of his ex-girlfriend appeared in court Tuesday. Prosecutors outlined their case against Nathaniel Fujita, 18, during his arraignment in connection with the death of Lauren Astley.

Boston Herald 8/23/11: DA: Wayland defendant wanted to watch movie after murder. In the moments after authorities say he murdered his ex-high school sweetheart and dumped her body in a marsh, prosecutors say Nathaniel Fujita drove back to his house shirtless, with music blaring and windows down, then called his parents and asked if they could come home and watch a movie with him. "I needed someone to hang out with. I just wanted to get my mind off it," Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Lisa McGovern, speaking at Fujita’s arraignment this morning, quoted the defendant as saying to a cousin after the July 4 killing in Wayland.

Boston Globe 8/23/11: Wayland man, 18, pleads not guilty to murdering estranged girlfriend, Lauren Astley from Metro Desk. The Wayland teen accused of murdering his former girlfriend and then dumping her body in a marshy area today pleaded not guilty to a charge of first degree murder in Middlesex Superior Court. Nathaniel Fujita was ordered held without bail until Sept. 22 when his defense attorney plans to push for his release on bail. Fujita, who has been in custody since his arrest in July, also pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a single count of assault and battery

Wayland Town Crier 8/22/11: Wayland man scheduled for arraignment in murder of classmate. Nathaniel Fujita, 18, of Wayland, is scheduled for an arraignment in Middlesex Superior Court, 200 Tradecenter, Courtroom 630, Woburn, on Tuesday, August 23 at 11am. According to the Middlesex District Attorney's office, Fujita is charged with murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (two counts), and assault and battery, in connection with the July 3 homicide of Lauren Astley in Wayland. Authorities say Fujita killed Astley and dumped her body in a marsh on Water Row in Wayland. Her body was found on July 4 by a bicyclist. A medical examiner said she died by a combination of strangulation and a cut to her neck.

Wayland Patch 8/22/11: Wayland Murder Suspect Faces Arraignment Tomorrow, Aug. 23. Nathaniel Fujita will face arraignment tomorrow at 11 a.m. on charges that he murdered his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Astley, in early July. The arraignment will take place at Woburn Superior Court in Courtroom 630. On Aug. 4, a Middlesex County Grand Jury indicted Fujita on charges of murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.

Wayland Patch 8/9/11: August Arraingment set for Wayland murder suspect. Nathaniel Fujita, 18, will be arraigned in Woburn Superior Court on Aug. 23 on charges connected to the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Astley, in Wayland in early July. On Aug. 4, a Middlesex County Grand Jury indicted Fujita on charges of first-degree murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery. Jessica Pastore, a spokesperson with Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office, said the case became a superior court case when the grand jury decided there was sufficient evidence to indict Fujita on first-degree murder charges.