Local news briefs for December 22, 2000

Friday, Dec. 22, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

Convenience stores gets reminder

CARSON CITY -- The state and federal government are joining in a program to remind convenience stores in Nevada they must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and Assistant U.S. Attorney General Bill Lee have sent letters to representatives of the industry encouraging voluntary compliance. Included in the letters are details of the changes that are required by the law to allow access by the disabled.

The letter says many convenience stores have structural barriers that prohibit the disabled from using the businesses. Del Papa said, "Voluntary compliance eliminates the need for litigation, which is expensive for everyone."

Slain woman identified

A 25-year-old woman shot to death Wednesday in her ex-husband's house was identified as Virginia K. Centofanti.

Her ex-husband, Alfred "Chip" Centofanti III, was booked into the Clark County jail on a murder charge, Metro Police said.

Virginia Centofanti was at her former husband's home in the 8700 block of Wintry Garden about 7 p.m. Wednesday. A woman called 911 saying that her daughter-in-law had been shot, said Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro Police's homicide unit.

After the woman was shot, Centofanti's parents took him to a neighbor's house, where he was taken into custody by police, Petersen said.

The couple divorced a couple of days before the shooting. The police were called to the same house on Dec. 5 on a domestic violence complaint.

In that incident each accused the other of making threats with a gun. Virginia Centofanti was arrested for domestic violence after Centofanti said the woman ripped his shirt and scratched him, Petersen said. Centofanti apparently had marks on his face prompting the arrest.

Cause of inmate's death probed

An inmate in the Henderson jail died Wednesday and the cause of death is pending the results of a toxicology test, officials said.

Mark Tucker, 44, who jail officials determined through a medical screening had numerous medical problems, was put into a cell with a buzzer that he could push in case of an emergency, Henderson Police said.

About 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Tucker's cell mate pushed the buzzer because Tucker was having trouble breathing. Tucker was found not to be breathing and attempts to revive him failed, police said.

Tucker had complained earlier in the night of indigestion. His vital signs were checked and found to be normal, police said in a release.

A cause of death is pending further testing by the Clark County coroner. Police said in the press release, "preliminarily it is believed that Mr. Tucker died of natural causes."

Tucker had been in custody since Dec. 13 on a charge of contempt of court.

18-year-old man identified

An 18-year-old man found dead in his apartment in the 5800 block of Fawn Avenue was identified as Charles L. Bowyer.

The teen had talked with his mother Tuesday, but when she called him Wednesday, she got no answer, Metro police said.

She went to his home to check on him and found him dead. Police have no suspect and no motive for the slaying.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.