A parolee who corresponded with an elderly gay man while in prison has been charged with killing him and encasing his body in a cement orb in the backyard of a house on Alabama Street in North Park.

Thomas Jeffrey Brooks, 40, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Edward Andrews, 80, and to using Andrews’ credit cards to steal $92,000. A special circumstance of murder for financial gain has also been filed and Brooks faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Brooks was living in a 15th Street apartment when he was arrested on Aug. 8, 2008. Andrews, who lived in Hemet, was reported missing on June 1, 2008, after his ATM card was illegally used and money withdrawn from his bank account, according to court records.

Brooks was doing yard work at a house on the 3400 block of Alabama Street and fashioned a cement elliptical-shaped orb in the backyard as part of a garden. The roommates who lived there knew Brooks casually, and later became aware that Brooks had been arrested for killing Andrews. No body had yet been found.

One roommate knew about the allegations that Brooks had stolen money from the victim, and thought perhaps the money might be in the cement orb, according to an arrest warrant declaration.

One of them broke the orb open on Sept. 5, and made a horrifying discovery.

A human foot and a foul odor associated with decomposing flesh was discovered in the cement orb. The roommates called police. Officers discovered a body encased in plastic and wire mesh.

Deputy District Attorney Dino Paraskevopoulos said the victim was gay and had some type of a romantic relationship with Brooks after he was paroled from prison. He said they were once “pen pals.”

After Andrews disappeared, his neighbor received a letter that was purported to be from Andrews, saying he and his lover, Brooks, were vacationing in Europe. That letter actually raised suspicion to the neighbor, who reported it to police, said Paraskevopoulos.

“It didn’t seem right. The victim didn’t mention a trip,” said Paraskevopoulos to a reporter.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 29 to see if there is enough evidence for Brooks to stand trial for murder.

Brooks had admitted killing Andrews, according to court records, but he refused to say where the body could be located. He told police that Andrews died from “lack of air” and added, “Ed got a proper burial.”

A detective asked Brooks, “So the bottom line is that you killed Andrews, but you won’t show us there the body is?” Brooks replied, “Yes,” court records say.

In October, 2008, detectives interviewed a man they described as Brooks’ “companion at the time of his arrest.” The companion told deputies he remembered Brooks asking him to help build a rock garden in the backyard of the Alabama Street house. He said Brooks asked him to go buy a shovel and several bags of concrete.

The companion told police that Brooks wanted help in carrying a “rock sculpture” to the Alabama Street house, records say. The companion said the rock sculpture was wrapped by a purple blanket that was secured with duct tape. He said he helped him move the object to the backyard, but had “no idea” it could have contained a body.

A message was left with Brooks’ attorney, but he could not be reached for comment. Brooks remains at the downtown central jail on $3 million bail.