Two Las Vegas men sentenced to life in prison for Montana murder

Friday, June 6, 1997 | 5:48 a.m.

District Judge Michael Prezeau said John Lynch and Larry Pizzichiello showed a lack of remorse for killing Brian Carreiro, stealing his pickup truck and draining his bank account.

They also burned his body in an attempt to destroy evidence. Lynch and Pizzichiello remained only suspects until Carreiro's charred remains were found last May on property owned by Lynch's father in northwestern Montana. Investigators believe he was murdered in August 1995.

Also last May, a 9mm pistol was found discarded in a remote area of Clark County, Nev. The weapon, registered to Lynch, had not been reported stolen even though it was a fairly valuable gun.

Lynch was sentenced to life for murder, plus 10 years for tampering with evidence and 20 years for two counts of robbery. He got an additional five years for use of a deadly weapon. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Pizzichiello was sentenced to life for murder by accountability, along with 10 years for tampering with evidence and 20 years for two counts of robbery.

The two were convicted in separate week-long trials in March.

The state argued that Lynch and Pizzichiello murdered Carreiro to steal the $7,500 workers compensation award he had just deposited into his bank accounts. The investigation revealed that the accounts were drained between Montana and Las Vegas, and connected Lynch and Pizzichiello to the transactions.

Lynch also had Carreiro's repainted pickup truck.