NV - 4 Murders in one week, LE asking for tips, Washoe & Douglas Counties, Jan 2019 *arrest*

[pandamonium]

The man accused of killing four people this month in Douglas County and south Reno made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.

19-year-old Wilber Martinez-Guzman is charged with 36 counts, including burglary, stolen property and stolen firearm charges.

Complaint included in story:

Man Accused of Killing Four People Appears in Carson City Court

 

[pandamonium]

$500K bail set for suspect in four Northern Nevada murders
A judge has set bail at $500,000 for a 19-year-old from El Salvador accused of possessing weapons and pawning property stolen from victims in four northern Nevada killings.

Judge Thomas Armstrong set another court hearing Feb. 8 to determine if the Carson City case should proceed to trial on felony and misdemeanor burglary, stolen property and other charges.

 

[pandamonium]

Joint press conference to take place with update regarding Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office and the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office will be holding a press conference on Monday, January 28 at 11:00 a.m. at the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office here in Reno.

The conference will update the public on the filing of formal criminal charges in connection with the four recent murders that occurred within Douglas and Washoe Counties.

 

[pandamonium]

Sheriff: Man admitted 2 slayings; gun used in 4

A sheriff's report says a 19-year-old from El Salvador admitted killing a married couple in Reno and used a handgun that he said he stole earlier from their home do it.

The report filed with a judge Thursday in Carson City says the gun is believed to be the weapon also used to kill two women in their homes in Gardnerville.

Another link with more info:

Carson City Sheriff Confirms Suspect Admitted to Killing Reno Couple
***
So I'm puzzled by this . . . did he break into the Reno home prior to steal the gun, kill the women in Gardnerville and THEN go back to murder the couple in Reno? Unbelievable!

 

[Herat]

It will be very interesting to find out when he stole the original gun.

And where he was planning to go the night of the arrest. Another murder?

 

[pandamonium]

It will be very interesting to find out when he stole the original gun.

And where he was planning to go the night of the arrest. Another murder?

Very possible considering they were occurring every 3 or 4 days. Will be interesting if we ever see a timeline of time of death vs when bodies were discovered. Some are possibly speculating if he killed the David's first now and they were discovered last. As active as they were in the community, I don't buy that theory as I can't imagine a week or so before people would notice them gone.

It's all so odd . . .why go back and forth like that if what is being reported is true?

 

[Herat]

I think the relative shutdown of information from LE has made this all the more puzzling.

He seems to be pretty forthcoming to LE, disclosing where he hid the guns, for example.

LE really needs to know when he stole the first gun - the .22 revolver , I believe. And why Connie Koontz and Sophia Renken?

I do want to know, and yet I don't

 

[Herat]

Some are possibly speculating if he killed the David's first now and they were discovered last. As active as they were in the community, I don't buy that theory as I can't imagine a week or so before people would notice them gone.

I would agree with you on that. They had horses and it doesn't make any sense that 7 days would go by before neighbors realized the horses were unattended.

 

[pandamonium]

Nevada officials hold press conference on formal criminal charges on 4 homicides suspect

The Washoe and Douglas County District Attorney's filed a single formal criminal complaint against Martinez-Guzman, submitted to the Reno court today before the press conference.

He will be held on four counts of murder with use of a deadly weapon and five counts of burglary.

He will be held without bail.

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks will be personally prosecuting.

 

[pandamonium]

Latest affidavit and probable cause in this article: Formal Murder Charges Filed Against Wilber Martinez-Guzman

Prosecutors have announced formal murder charges against a 19-year-old illegal immigrant in connection with this month's four deaths in Douglas and Washoe Counties.

Authorities say Wilber Martinez-Guzman will be transferred to Washoe County Jail to face nine new charges that were announced during a joint press conference on Monday. As of the time of this writing, he's still in the Carson City jail. He will be held without bail once he's transferred to Washoe.

Prosecutors said that they will prosecute all four alleged murders in Washoe County. Authorities say the four victims were killed in Douglas County and south Reno within a span of six days. Five counts of burglary were also filed against Martinez-Guzman.

 

[Herat]

The original CCSO report said:

"Detectives combed the Sedge Road area [in eastern Carson City] and located freshly dug soil. After digging about 25-30 inches into the ground, investigators recovered 11 firearms from the dig site wrapped in a grey tarp."

The WCCO statement says he buried the David's guns on their property.

Did he go BACK to their property to dig them up and transfer them to Carson City? I don't understand

And when did he steal the David's .22 handgun?

 

[pandamonium]

The original CCSO report said:

"Detectives combed the Sedge Road area [in eastern Carson City] and located freshly dug soil. After digging about 25-30 inches into the ground, investigators recovered 11 firearms from the dig site wrapped in a grey tarp."

The WCCO statement says he buried the David's guns on their property.

Did he go BACK to their property to dig them up and transfer them to Carson City? I don't understand

And when did he steal the David's .22 handgun?

According to the affidavit he stole from the David's on or around Jan 3rd or 4th.

He worked for them many times as well: The affidavit says authorities learned about a former landscaper who provided landscape services at the Davids' south Reno home from April 2018 through the end of July 2018. They say the landscaper identified as "Ernesto" worked at the home 10 to 14 times during those months. Prosecutors say "Ernesto" was confirmed to be Martinez-Guzman via a photograph.

 

[Herat]

Thanks pandamonium.

Here's the affidavit:

Affidavit details how and when Gardnerville, Reno murders were committed

It's very chilling. There is a terrible sense of premeditation and overkill with stalking in it. Here's what I take away from it:

1. Connie Koontz's garage door was open, the door from the garage to the house was unlocked, and the door from the garage to her back yard was unlocked. He entered and she opened the door and he shot her, then stole jewelry, watch & computer.

2. Sophia Renken's back door was unlocked. He entered and surprised her, and shot at her 5 times through the house, pursuing her into the bedroom. He did not burglarize her house

3. He stole stuff from the David's trailer possibly twice. [on Jan 3-4, I presume], including pawnable stuff. This included a bag with the .22 and ammo. It also sounds like the David's had a caretaker who noted these items missing. He entered the David's home about 6 am. No mention of unlocked doors.

4. Within a day of Connie's murder, an attempt was made to connect Connie's Apple watch with the phone of Guzman's mother. He comes and goes from her apt in Carson City. There are two cars registered to her, one of which is the 2006 BMW he was arrested in.

I'm getting more and more angry at this despicable punk who killed these fine people for stuff for pawn. I'm sure not impressed with his mother, either. I hope LE is keeping an eye on her and her means of income....

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Thanks! I thought of that too--not sure if it's better to be at home or leave and come back to the unknown. uggghh! Not that I have much choice as I work and not much of that is getting done today. haha
My kids are in school and my hubby works during the day. I do have 3 big dogs--2 German Shepherd's and a 100 lb lab so I'm hoping they are a good deterrent

I'm also locked and loaded as well. That being said, none of that makes me feel any better. It's a very unnerving feeling. I'm jumpy and have more of a need to check out EVERY noise, every car that I hear go by the house, more paranoid when the dogs alert or bark, etc. Yeah, I hope they catch this perp soon.

I hate this uncertainty. My poor daughter was afraid to eat her breakfast downstairs this am by herself. I don't blame her. It's very unsettling knowing somebody like this is preying on people.

So glad you have the dogs there and that you're locked and loaded. I'm very sorry you and your family and neighbors are going through this. Prayers for safety and quick apprehension of the suspect(s).

Your dogs are beautiful, btw. I love your Lab's "socks".

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Shift work.... hmmm

Hospitals have shift work and so do casinos

And many factories and fire/EMS.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Thanks pandamonium.

Here's the affidavit:

Affidavit details how and when Gardnerville, Reno murders were committed

It's very chilling. There is a terrible sense of premeditation and overkill with stalking in it. Here's what I take away from it:

1. Connie Koontz's garage door was open, the door from the garage to the house was unlocked, and the door from the garage to her back yard was unlocked. He entered and she opened the door and he shot her, then stole jewelry, watch & computer.

2. Sophia Renken's back door was unlocked. He entered and surprised her, and shot at her 5 times through the house, pursuing her into the bedroom. He did not burglarize her house

3. He stole stuff from the David's trailer possibly twice. [on Jan 3-4, I presume], including pawnable stuff. This included a bag with the .22 and ammo. It also sounds like the David's had a caretaker who noted these items missing. He entered the David's home about 6 am. No mention of unlocked doors.

4. Within a day of Connie's murder, an attempt was made to connect Connie's Apple watch with the phone of Guzman's mother. He comes and goes from her apt in Carson City. There are two cars registered to her, one of which is the 2006 BMW he was arrested in.

I'm getting more and more angry at this despicable punk who killed these fine people for stuff for pawn. I'm sure not impressed with his mother, either. I hope LE is keeping an eye on her and her means of income....

So he did go back to their home after he stole the gun and left, and he killed them upon returning? TIA How long had he been up to these illegal means of income, and how could his mother not know that something was off?

 

[pandamonium]

So he did go back to their home after he stole the gun and left, and he killed them upon returning? TIA How long had he been up to these illegal means of income, and how could his mother not know that something was off?

My 'opinion' is he'd been up to illegal means of income ever since arriving to the country. It's been verified he came here illegally and was here illegally so he wasn't here for work--at least not legally. Possibly family but I don't think that has been disclosed yet. How else could he gain income other than the occasional 'under the table' side jobs that were likely seasonal?

I also wonder about the family. I imagine LE is looking into all avenues at this point.

I do not recall ever seeing or hearing about a case where somebody broke in like this that far in advance, committed crimes and then came back and killed the owners at the original house. I still can't make sense of it. Clearly he got away with the robberies so what would be the motive other than just sheer sickness at that point? smh . . .

It's very scary tho--how many of us have hired landscapers or that type of worker where the company itself seems valid but you have no idea who they employ. I know around here it's very common to hire cheap labor and day labor--there's no way to vet that. We make sure anyone we hire is licensed but that doesn't mean they don't hire felons or day laborers with no background. Other than solid references from other customers (that can also be verified) it's scary to think this could really happen to anyone.

 

[BaffleMe]

My 'opinion' is he'd been up to illegal means of income ever since arriving to the country. It's been verified he came here illegally and was here illegally so he wasn't here for work--at least not legally. Possibly family but I don't think that has been disclosed yet. How else could he gain income other than the occasional 'under the table' side jobs that were likely seasonal?

I also wonder about the family. I imagine LE is looking into all avenues at this point.

I do not recall ever seeing or hearing about a case where somebody broke in like this that far in advance, committed crimes and then came back and killed the owners at the original house. I still can't make sense of it. Clearly he got away with the robberies so what would be the motive other than just sheer sickness at that point? smh . . .

It's very scary tho--how many of us have hired landscapers or that type of worker where the company itself seems valid but you have no idea who they employ. I know around here it's very common to hire cheap labor and day labor--there's no way to vet that. We make sure anyone we hire is licensed but that doesn't mean they don't hire felons or day laborers with no background. Other than solid references from other customers (that can also be verified) it's scary to think this could really happen to anyone.

The Elizabeth Smart case is an example. The kidnapper was a previous worker outside at the Smart house. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[BaffleMe]

So, can we say this guy who has been arrested is a serial killer? Robbery is one thing, but killing? It makes me wonder where he was and what he did before this crime spree.

 

[pandamonium]

Yes, the Elizabeth Smart case is another example of a handyman type worker at the house. Makes you wonder just how often this occurs.

With the 2nd victim, there has been no report of anything taken so if that's true robbery doesn't appear to be the only motive here. Puzzling.

Technically, yes, he's a serial killer. I believe anything after 3 qualifies as a serial killer. Although he's more of a spree killer since there was no break in between killings. Spree/serial . . too many imo and just a matter of semantics but supposedly there is a technical difference. The news has been pretty careful in using those words, mostly I think because the connections were officially made after they caught him and to lessen mass panic.