Suspect in killing arrested in Utah

Jace Radke and Karen Zekan

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999 | 11:04 a.m.

Two Metro Police homicide detectives were en route to Farmington, Utah, this morning to arrest a man suspected in the death of a 63-year-old Arizona man whose body was found in Laughlin Monday.

The Utah Highway Patrol stopped David Dunkle, 27, near Farmington just north of Salt Lake City about midnight Sunday. The car he was driving had a bullet hole and blood splattered on one side, Metro Lt. Wayne Petersen said.

"Dunkle told the Utah trooper that he had killed a man in Laughlin during the previous 24 hours," Petersen said. "Dunkle would not elaborate on exactly where the shooting took place or where the victim was."

The trooper ran the plate and other identifying numbers through a motor vehicle database and determined that the car belonged to a 63-year-old man from Flagstaff, Ariz. Dunkle also had in his possession the Arizona man's credit cards and a loaded gun, police said.

Dunkle was booked into Davis County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon. The vehicle was impounded as evidence.

Utah authorities at 2 a.m. Monday notified Metro Police of a possible homicide.

About 3 p.m. Monday, a citizen called police in Laughlin after finding a body about 100 feet off the west side of Casino Drive, less than a mile north of Highway 163. The body, which was obscured from the road by bushes, matched the description of the Arizona man, police said.

The initial investigation has revealed that the body had been there for 24 to 48 hours. The coroner's office this morning was withholding the victim's name until relatives are notified.

Homicide Sgt. Rocky Alby obtained from the district attorney's office today a signed warrant charging Dunkle with robbery with a weapon and murder with a weapon. A copy of the warrant has been faxed to Farmington, authorities said. Dunkle was due to be arraigned on the stolen car and weapon charges today at noon.