2019 Nevada killing spree
LocationDouglas and Washoe Counties, Nevada, United States
DateJanuary 10–16, 2019
Attack type
Spree killing
WeaponsFirearm
Deaths4
PerpetratorWilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman
MotiveRobbery

The 2019 Nevada killing spree was a series of murders in January 2019 in which an assailant broke into three homes in Douglas and Washoe Counties in northwestern 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 Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman. The sheriff's report states that Martinez-Guzman later confessed.[1][2]

Killings

A region-wide manhunt began after Connie Koontz, age 56, was found dead in her Gardnerville home on January 10, 2019.[3][4][5] Sophia Renken, 74, was found shot to death in her home in Gardnerville on January 13.[6][7] Gerald and Sharon David, 81 and 80 respectively, were found dead in their home in Washoe Valley, which is south of Reno, on January 16.

The manhunt continued for nine days.[8] Information obtained through tracking an Apple Watch, which had been stolen from Koontz, led to a Carson City 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.[9][6]  Douglas County, Washoe County and Carson City sheriffs' offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, started surveillance of Martinez-Guzman and his mother.[10] The following day, jewelry belonging to Koontz and a ring belonging to Gerald David were found at a Carson City pawn shop.[6]  

Perpetrator

Law enforcement had Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman under surveillance as they investigated the string of murder-robberies. During the investigation and surveillance an Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer, who worked regularly with the Tri-County Gang Unit, developed probable cause to arrest Martinez-Guzman on several immigration-related criminal charges. A team of law enforcement officers from the Carson City, Douglas and Lyon County Sheriff's Departments, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officers arrested Martinez-Guzman. He was arrested in Carson City, Nevada, on January 19, 2019, initially by ICE on immigration charges, and brought to the Carson City Sheriff's Department. While in temporary holding at the Carson City Sheriff's Department, Martinez-Guzman was read his rights, waived his rights, and interviewed. During the interview it is stated that he confessed to all four murders, as well as a string of other crimes. Based on this, and evidence obtained from a search warrant of his vehicle, Martinez-Guzman was then arrested by the Carson City Sheriff's Department and booked into the Carson City Jail on nearly 30 felonies.[6][11][12][4]

Martinez-Guzman, then 19 years old, was living in Carson City for approximately a year and a half.[13] He is a citizen and national of El Salvador who entered the United States by illegally crossing the US/Mexico border several years earlier.[14][15]

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.”[16]

Martinez-Guzman currently has his trial set on all four murder charges in Washoe County for late 2021.

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.[17][18]

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.[19]

Martinez-Guzman's trial was scheduled for April 2020,[20] and was later delayed to August 31, 2020,[21] and was later delayed again to September 20, 2021.[22] Prior to Martinez-Guzman's guilty pleas, prosecutors planned to seek a death penalty for the suspect.[23]

At a hearing before a grand jury in March 2019, a detective stated that Guzman had told police that he robbed and killed his victims because he needed money to buy meth.[24][25]

On October 21, 2021, Martinez-Guzman pled guilty to the murders of Gerald and Sharon David.[26][27]

On November 9, 2021, Martinez-Guzman pled guilty to the murders of Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken.[28][29]

On February 28, 2022, Martinez-Guzman was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, an additional 36 to 90 years in prison and $40,000 in fines for the crimes against Gerald and Sharon David.[30]

On March 3, 2022, Martinez-Guzman was sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken.[31]

Reaction

On January 21, 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted, "Four people in Nevada viciously robbed and killed by an illegal immigrant who should not have been in our Country. 26 people killed on the Border in a drug and gang related fight. Two large Caravans from Honduras broke into Mexico and are headed our way. We need a powerful Wall!"[32][33][34] Three close family members of Sharon and Gerald David were invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the 2019 State of the Union Address.[35]

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". WTVR. January 26, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Douglas County Deputies Searching for Gardnerville Killer". U.S. News & World Report. AP. January 11, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Shapiro, Emily (January 21, 2019). "Man in custody for 4 'brutal' killings that shook Reno communities: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  5. ↑ Lockhead, Colton (January 22, 2019). "Lawmakers quiet on Trump, Northern Nevada killings". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 McAndrew, Siobhan (January 21, 2019). "What we know about Wilbur Martinez-Guzman, held in connection with four Nevada homicides". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ Gearty, Robert (January 22, 2019). "Illegal immigrant linked to Nevada killing spree was from El Salvador, according to ICE". Fox News. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  8. ↑ Stevens, Matt; Rueb, Emily S.; Brown, Elisha (January 22, 2019). "Arrest of Immigrant Suspected in 4 Nevada Killings Draws Trump's Attention". New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  9. ↑ Dornan, Geoff (January 28, 2019). "Criminal complaint: Carson City man admits to all four killings". Tahoe Daily Tribune. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  10. ↑ Siobhan McAndrew (February 8, 2019). "How two Douglas County deputies tracked down the suspect in four Northern Nevada murders". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved March 11, 2019. That night, Douglas, Washoe and Carson sheriffs offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigations [sic] started surveillance on Guzman and her son.
  11. ↑ "Wilbur Ernesto Martinez-Guzman arrested near large gun store, sheriff says". Washington Times. AP. January 22, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Salvadoran man to be charged in Nevada killing spree". ABC local. AP. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  13. ↑ Pearce, Ed (January 21, 2019). "Murder suspect stayed in the shadows". KOLO-TV. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  14. ↑ Price, Michelle; Ritter, Ken (January 24, 2019). "Suspect in 4 slayings accused of selling victims' jewelry". Providence Journal. AP. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  15. ↑ "ICE clarifies immigration status of murder suspect". KOLO-TV. January 25, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  16. ↑ Corona, Marcella (February 5, 2019). "Reno, Gardnerville murders: Martinez-Guzman faces preliminary hearing in Carson City". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Details unfolding about man accused of killing four". KOLO. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  18. ↑ Lochead, Colton (February 8, 2019). "Trial to be expedited for man accused in Northern Nevada killings". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  19. ↑ Marcella Corona (February 8, 2019). "Martinez-Guzman waives preliminary hearing, facing murder charges in Washoe County". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  20. ↑ Scott Sonner (March 21, 2019). "Here's why Martinez-Guzman killed 4 people in Northern Nevada". Reno Gazette Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved April 11, 2019. His trial isn't scheduled to begin until April 2020.
  21. ↑ "Trial For Man Accused Of Killing Four Delayed Until August". Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Wilber Martinez Guzman Pleads Guilty to Remaining Charges in Multi-County Case". Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Death penalty to be sought for illegal immigrant in Nevada killings". March 14, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Immigrant charged with killing 4 told cops he needed drug money". New York Post. AP. March 21, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  25. ↑ Suspect in Washoe, Douglas killings appears in Reno court on murder charges
  26. ↑ "Martinez-Guzman pleads guilty to murders, now faces life sentences instead of death penalty". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Salvadoran man admits guilt in 4 Nevada killings". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Martinez-Guzman pleads guilty in Douglas County to murder, burglary charges". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  29. ↑ "2 more guilty pleas from man who admitted killing 4 Nevadans". AP NEWS. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  30. ↑ "'No one will remember you': Martinez-Guzman sentenced to life without parole for Reno murders". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  31. ↑ "'Heartless monster': Martinez-Guzman gets 2 more life sentences". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  32. ↑ Rosenblatt, Kahlan (January 21, 2019). "Man already in custody believed to be connected to string of Nevada murders". NBC News. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  33. ↑ Arrest of Immigrant Suspected in 4 Nevada Killings Draws Trump's Attention
  34. ↑ "Undocumented immigrant cited by Trump charged with four murders". CNN. January 28, 2019. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022.
  35. ↑ Stevens, Matt; Saveri, Mehir (February 4, 2019). "Who Are the Trumps' State of the Union Guests?". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
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