MILWAUKEE - The 18-year-old accused of killing his long-time girlfriend made his first appearance in court Tuesday.

Eric Tavulares is behind bars in the Milwaukee County Jail.

Tavulares is facing up to 60 years in prison for killing 18-year-old Lauren Aljubouri. The court commissioner wants to keep him in custody, setting bail at $150,000.

Tavulares showed little emotion in his first court appearance Tuesday. He’s charged with strangling long time girlfriend in their east side apartment.

The prosecutor emphasized a criminal history in Waukesha County that includes drug and resisting arrest charges. Tavulares’ public defender says he has a history of mental health issues, but did not elaborate.

Both Aljubouri and Tavulares had jobs in downtown Milwaukee.

Tavulares had just started as a dish washer at a downtown restaurant, and Aljubouri worked next door. Both had shifts the night of the murder.

Tavulares left his job early Friday night, between 8:00 and 9:00, telling his manager he had a bad headache from falling down stairs.

Aljubouri finished her shift at the restaurant next door after 10:00, and was found dead just hours later in the couple’s east side apartment.

“It was a tragedy. We were all in shock and we’re still in shock and all of our hearts go out to her and her family,” Aljubouri’s boss, Omar Shaikh said.

It’s even harder on co-workers at the Hartbrook Café in Hartland, where Aljubouri waited tables for three years. She painted the murals and wall, and her coffee mug still sits on the shelf.

“She’ll drive past my house and she’ll beep and wave. To know that’s never going to happen again is very difficult,” Aljubouri’s co-worker, Sally Bowe said. “It’s hard to know that she’s never going to come through the back door again.”

“She painted the world with her smile. She was quiet until you got to know her and then you got to see who Lauren really was,” Bowe said.

“It means a lot, but it’s still pretty sad to look at. At least we’ll always see her name up there,” Aljubouri’s former co-worker Denise Chupp said.

Friend Jose Mariscal used to hang out with Lauren and Eric.

“It’s very devastating. I can’t believe it happened, myself. I just couldn’t believe it. It’s very shocking,” Mariscal said.

Tavulares is behind bars – his bail set at $150,000.

Aljubouri’s family is planning for her wake Friday night and funeral on Saturday.