Brother could face murder charge in sibling’s death

Greg Tuttle

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

A 73-year-old Las Vegas man is a step closer to being charged with murder after a judge ruled Monday there is enough evidence to charge him in the death of his older brother.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle said there is probable cause to hold Ronald Brauch to face a possible murder charge for the May 16 death of 74-year-old Donald Brauch.

Oesterle's ruling followed testimony from a Clark County medical examiner who said Donald Brauch died of blunt force trauma inflicted during an assault. The victim also showed signs of numerous bite wounds inflicted near the time of death, Dr. Lary Simms said.

Ronald Brauch is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Clark County District Court. Oesterle reduced his bail from $50,000 to $25,000 but denied a defense request to release him on home detention.

Donald Brauch was found inside an apartment at 2675 S. Nellis Blvd. at about 8:30 a.m. on May 16 after authorities received a 911 call from Ronald Brauch. The brothers had lived together most of their adult lives and have resided in the Las Vegas area since 1987.

Chris Blackburn, a paramedic who testified at the preliminary hearing Monday, said he found Donald Brauch on a hallway floor after responding to a call of a man suffering cardiac arrest or breathing problems. The man was dead, Blackburn said, and Ronald Brauch was the only other person in the apartment.

Blackburn said he called police from the scene because "it was not a natural death, we could see that." The victim's face was bloody and his eyes blackened, Blackburn recalled. There was also what appeared to be bite marks on the man's body, he said.

Metro Police Detective James Franks testified blood splatters were found in a bedroom of the apartment. Ronald Brauch told the homicide detective the brothers had lived together all of their lives except during the time they spent in the military.

During a taped statement, Ronald Brauch allegedly told the detective his brother suffered from dementia and other serious health problems, was nearly bedridden and often soiled his linen. On the morning of his brother's death, Ronald Brauch said he tried to get his brother out of bed to clean him, but he fell to the floor and was unresponsive.

He said he hit Donald Brauch "to get his attention," the detective said, then carried him to the bathroom.

Ronald Brauch cleaned and shaved his brother, but while carrying him back to the bedroom, the elder Brauch collapsed on the hallway floor. Ronald Brauch said he could not lift him so he went to a neighbor and was told to call 911.

Franks said Ronald Brauch had blood on his head and face and dried blood in his mouth. Blood was also found on his pants, Franks said, and there was a "fairly good attempt to clean the scene" before paramedics and police arrived.

Simms, the medical examiner, said Donald Brauch suffered numerous cuts and bruises on his body, including at least one potentially fatal brain injury from blunt trauma. The elderly man also had three broken ribs, a fractured jaw and fractured voice box, indicating strangulation.

Donald Brauch also was bitten between 15 and 25 times on various parts of his body, Simms said. None of the bites broke the skin, and some appeared to have been inflicted at least 18 hours before death.