Burned man admits suicide attempt

Keith Paul

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

A 40-year-old man weaved a story of carjackers assaulting him and setting him on fire after he tried and failed to kill himself by setting himself on fire.

Richard Brewer, who was in serious condition this morning at University Medical Center, admitted to investigators Monday afternoon he concocted the crime after he was presented with evidence his story was false.

"One of his friends said he made a statement Saturday about taking his own life," Sgt. Lori Crickett of Metro Police's robbery unit said. "He was cooperating (Monday afternoon) and admitted when he was unsuccessful (in killing himself), he came up with the story."

A Metro Police helicopter crew spotted Brewer about 11 a.m. Sunday wandering around naked in the area known as the saddle -- off East Lake Mead Boulevard near Sunrise Mountain. The pilot set the helicopter down and found Brewer was badly burned.

Brewer told officers he was carjacked by two men at the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Mojave Road Saturday night. He said they forced their way into his pickup and drove to the remote spot. He claimed they then took a gas can from the rear of the truck, soaked him and the truck with fuel and set the vehicle on fire with him inside.

"After the detectives re-examined the scene and the vehicle, they knew there were some inconsistencies," Crickett said.

Brewer admitted he set himself and the truck on fire in an attempt to kill himself, police said.

Clark County Fire Department arson investigators assisted Metro.

Detectives also found evidence he had been at the scene for some time and had eaten some food while in the area, which went against his story that he was set on fire almost immediately after the carjackers took him there.

Brewer is in UMC's burn ward with second- and third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body, police said.

He will not face any charges, Crickett said.