Police may have solved slaying from ‘79
Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999 | 11:54 a.m.
North Las Vegas Police have dusted the cobwebs off a 20-year-old slaying case after a man came forward and admitted to the crime.
David Ferrell, 39, has been charged with the Nov. 21, 1979, stabbing death of 52-year-old Wilbert F. Wendeburg, after confessing to the crime to police in Long Beach, Calif.
"We don't ever close cases, but to have one solved after 20 years is pretty wild," department spokesman Chris Larotonda said Wednesday.
Ferrell was arrested in Long Beach on Oct. 7 for being drunk in public, Larotonda said.
"We got a call from the Long Beach department and apparently he (Ferrell) said some things to police while he was drunk," Larotonda said. "We went back and researched our open cases and what he was saying matched up with this case."
On Tuesday North Las Vegas detectives picked up Ferrell in California and accompanied him back to North Las Vegas.
Ferrell led detectives to the 20-year-old crime scene at 2522 Arrowhead St., in an old North Las Vegas residential area off Civic Center Drive north of City Hall.
"He knew things from that case that you couldn't know unless you were there," Larotonda said.
Ferrell, who was 18 at the time of the murder, told detectives that Wendeburg had given him a ride and offered to allow Ferrell to sleep on his couch, Larotonda said.
Ferrell explained to detectives that Wendeburg later made sexual advances toward him, and when he was rejected became angry, Larotonda said. Ferrell said he lost control and attacked Wendeburg with a knife after he fell asleep.
Larotonda said that Ferrell also told detectives that the guilt over the killing had eaten at him for 20 years and that he wants to be punished for his crime.
Ferrell has been booked into the North Las Vegas Detention Center on a charge of murder with a deadly weapon. He declined to comment this morning.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Funeral procession for slain officer includes Las Vegas Strip
- General Growth moving subsidiaries out of bankruptcy protection
- Justin Hawkins is a Rebel with many causes
- Man on death row for 1990 Vegas murder kills self
- Metro officer remembered as ‘protector’ of family, community
- When did Binion’s $1 million display appear?
- 6th arrest made in officer’s death; 5 face formal charges
- Judge to rule whether Lt. Gov. Krolicki case continues
- Marcus Jones finds his true passion in hunt for UFC contract
- Henderson educator named Nevada Teacher of the Year
Blogs
The Kats Report
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (2 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (2 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (2 Comments)
Now and Then
Underdog is open on a post pattern
Miech Again
Kruger contract altered in September (5 Comments)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond brings DWTS trophy to Las Vegas
Calendar »
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
-
Food drive with Adam Hunter at Bonkerz Comedy Club
Bonkerz Comedy Club | 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
DJ Battle at Drai's
Drai's Afterhours | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
2012 at Cheyenne Saloon
Cheyenne Saloon | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Sampson's Army at the Double Down Saloon
Double Down Saloon | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












