2019 Nevada killing spree

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The 2019 Nevada killing spree was a series of murders in which an assailant broke into three homes in western Nevada, murdered the elderly inhabitants, and made off with valuables. Reports of the crimes terrified area residents for several days until a police manhunt identified and apprehended a suspect, Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman, an undocumented immigrant. The sheriff's report states that Martinez-Guzman later confessed.[1][2]

Killings

A region-wide manhunt began after Connie Koontz was found dead in her Gardnerville home on January 10, 2019.[3][4][5] Sophia Renken was found shot to death in her home in Gardnerville on January 13.[6][7] Gerald and Sharon David were found dead in their home in Reno on January 16.

Connie Koontz had jewelry stolen during the incident.[8] She was 56.[9]

Sophia Renken (74) was found dead inside her home, about one mile from Koontz's house, on January 13.[4][5]

81-year-old Gerald David and 80-year-old Sharon David were found dead in their south Reno home on January 16, 2019.[4][5]

The manhunt continued for nine days.[10] Information obtained through tracking an Apple watch which had been stolen from Koontz led to a woman who had attempted to connect a digital account to the watch; her son Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman is now under arrest and accused of committing the series of murders.[11][6] She was living in Carson City with Martinez-Guzman.[6]  Douglas County, Washoe County and Carson City sheriffs' offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigations started surveillance of Martinez-Guzman and his mother.[12] The following day, jewelry belonging to Koontz and a ring belonging to Jerry David were found at a Carson City pawn shop.[6]  

Suspect

Authorities had Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman under surveillance as they investigated the string of murder-robberies, and took him into custody as he approached a suburban gun store, fearing that he intended to purchase weapons.[13] He was arrested in Carson City, Nevada on January 19, 2019 on suspicion of having committed the murders.[6][13][14][4] The initial charges were for possession of stolen property, two counts of burglary, and obtaining money under false pretenses.[6]

Martinez-Guzman, then 19 years old, is thought to have been living in Carson City for about a year.[15] He is a citizen of El Salvador.[16][17]

Legal proceedings

Following the killings, Martinez-Guzman was detained on an immigration hold. According to immigration officials, Martinez-Guzman "was likely in the United States illegally and was detainable."[4] according to a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “If he’s released from jail, law enforcement will contact us, and we will pick him up and we will start the proceedings for his deportation.”[18]

Martinez-Guzman is expected to be tried in each of the two counties where the killings took place, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks and Douglas County District Attorney Mark Jackson each plan to lead the prosecution team in their respective counties.[18]

Martinez-Guzman appeared in court on January 23, 2019, where he was charged with possession of stolen property, burglary, and obtaining money under false pretenses.[19][20]

In February 2019, Martinez-Guzman waived his right to a preliminary hearing and a judge approved his transfer to Washoe County where he is held without bail to face prosecution for four murders. Prosecution in Carson City for 26 burglary and possession charges was placed on hold.[21]

The suspect's trial was scheduled for April 2020,[22] and was later delayed to August 31, 2020,[23] and was later delayed again to September 20, 2021.[24] Prosecutors will seek a death penalty for the suspect.[25]

At a hearing before a Grand Jury in March, 2019, a detective stated that Guzman had told police that he committed robbed and killed his victims because he needed money to buy meth.[26][27]

Political attention

President Donald Trump tweeted, "Four people in Nevada viciously robbed and killed by an illegal immigrant who should not have been in our Country."[28][29][30] Three close family members of Sharon and Gerald David were invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the 2019 State of the Union Address.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Carson City Sheriff's Office arrest report contains Martinez-Guzman confession". Carson Now.
  2. ^ "Undocumented immigrant admits killing couple in spree cited by Trump, police say". 26 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Douglas County Deputies Searching for Gardnerville Killer". U.S. News & World Report. AP. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Shapiro, Emily (21 January 2019). "Man in custody for 4 'brutal' killings that shook Reno communities: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Lockhead, Colton (22 January 2019). "Lawmakers quiet on Trump, Northern Nevada killings". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f McAndrew, Siobhan (21 January 2019). "What we know about Wilbur Martinez-Guzman, held in connection with four Nevada homicides". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. ^ Gearty, Robert (22 January 2019). "Illegal immigrant linked to Nevada killing spree was from El Salvador, according to ICE". Fox News. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. ^ Siobhan McAndrew (8 February 2018). "Daughter of Connie Koontz, shot to death in Gardnerville, said her mother was her everything". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 11 March 2019. "Most of the stuff I want to feel close to her is in evidence right now," Madison said of the jewelry that police said [omitted to avoid BLP challenges] stole. "I know the jewelry is safe, and I'll get them back one day, but the key reminds me of my mother."
  9. ^ Pearce, Ed (1 February 2019). "Remembering the victims: Connie Koontz". KOLO-TV. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  10. ^ Stevens, Matt; Rueb, Emily S.; Brown, Elisha (22 January 2019). "Arrest of Immigrant Suspected in 4 Nevada Killings Draws Trump's Attention". New York Times. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  11. ^ Dornan, Geoff (28 January 2019). "Criminal complaint: Carson City man admits to all four killings". Tahoe Daily Tribune. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  12. ^ Siobhan McAndrew (8 February 2019). "How two Douglas County deputies tracked down the suspect in four Northern Nevada murders". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 11 March 2019. That night, Douglas, Washoe and Carson sheriffs offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigations started surveillance on Guzman and her son.
  13. ^ a b "Wilbur Ernesto Martinez-Guzman arrested near large gun store, sheriff says". Washington Times. AP. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Salvadoran man to be charged in Nevada killing spree". ABC local. AP. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  15. ^ Pearce, Ed (21 January 2019). "Murder suspect stayed in the shadows". KOLO-TV. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  16. ^ Price, MIchelle; Ritter, Ken (24 January 2019). "Suspect in 4 slayings accused of selling victims' jewelry". Providence Journal. AP. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  17. ^ "ICE clarifies immigration status of murder suspect". KOLO-TV. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  18. ^ a b Corona, Marcella (5 February 2019). "Reno, Gardnerville murders: Martinez-Guzman faces preliminary hearing in Carson City". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Details unfolding about man accused of killing four". KOLO. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  20. ^ Lochead, Colton (8 February 2019). "Trial to be expedited for man accused in Northern Nevada killings". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  21. ^ Marcella Corona (8 February 2019). "Martinez-Guzman waives preliminary hearing, facing murder charges in Washoe County". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  22. ^ Scott Sonner (21 March 2019). "Here's why Martinez-Guzman killed 4 people in Northern Nevada". Reno Gazette Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved 11 April 2019. His trial isn't scheduled to begin until April 2020.
  23. ^ "Trial For Man Accused Of Killing Four Delayed Until August". Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  24. ^ "September Trial Date Set for Accused Murderer Wilber Martinez-Guzman". Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  25. ^ https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/death-penalty-to-be-sought-for-illegal-immigrant-in-nevada-killings-1617933/
  26. ^ "Immigrant charged with killing 4 told cops he needed drug money". New York Post. AP. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  27. ^ Suspect in Washoe, Douglas killings appears in Reno court on murder charges
  28. ^ Rosenblatt, Kahlan (21 January 2019). "Man already in custody believed to be connected to string of Nevada murders". NBC News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  29. ^ Arrest of Immigrant Suspected in 4 Nevada Killings Draws Trump’s Attention
  30. ^ Undocumented immigrant cited by Trump charged with four murders
  31. ^ Stevens, Matt; Saveri, Mehir (4 February 2019). "Who Are the Trumps' State of the Union Guests?". New York Times. Retrieved 27 February 2019.


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