Questions surrounding the sexual orientation of the 39-year-old man found strangled and stuffed under a bathroom sink in his Little Italy apartment last week has many in the GLBT community wondering if the crime was motivated by anti-gay hatred.

The victim, Raymund Catolico, was said to use popular gay hook-up Web site adam4adam.com. Since Catolico’s death, members of the community have contacted the Gay & Lesbian Times asking why his death is not being investigated as a possible hate crime.

Postings have also shown up on Craigslist, San Diego – a Web site used by both the gay and straight communities to meet other men and women – warning people about the dangers of meeting people online.

A 19-year-old Marine named James Alexander Hardy, of New Mexico, was arrested Feb. 11 for Catolico’s murder. Hardy was detained by military police at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, and pleaded not guilty to murder in court Feb. 16.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribuine, San Diego Superior Court Judge David M. Szumowski set Hardy’s bail at $1 million. If convicted, he could be sent to prison for 25 years to life.

Images from a bank’s surveillance camera show Hardy using one of Catolico’s credit cards, which was taken and used after his death.

It has been reported that the two men had met at least once before the slaying.

San Diego police Lt. Kevin Rooney said he can neither confirm nor deny that the relationship between the victim and Hardy was sexual in nature. The case has been given to the District Attorney’s Office.