Dead suspect implicated two others in slayings

Keith Paul

Monday, Oct. 9, 2000 | 11:36 a.m.

A Bellagio robbery suspect who hung himself in the Clark County jail over the weekend had implicated himself and two co-defendants in the March killing of two armored car guards in Henderson, a source told the Sun.

Oscar Cisneros Sanchez, in a confession after his June arrest, said Jose Vigoa and Luis Suarez -- who along with Sanchez are accused of a string of casino and armored car heists -- were the players in the deadly, botched Henderson robbery, said a source close to the investigation, who requested anonymity.

Henderson Police Chief Michael Mayberry confirmed this morning Suarez is the third suspect in the March 3 armored truck robbery outside the Ross Dress for Less in Henderson where two guards -- Richard Sosa, 47, and Gary Prestidge II, 23, were gunned down. He would not comment about any statements Sanchez made to police.

Sanchez, who along with Vigoa had been previously named as a suspect in the Henderson killings, was found dead in his cell about 4 a.m. Saturday by corrections officers. But Sanchez's confession apparently could not be used against Vigoa and Suarez, who have not been charged in connection with the Henderson killings.

Deputy Clark County District Attorney Frank Coumou said any confession by a defendant cannot be used against co-defendants unless the defendant testifies for the prosecution and there is independent corroboration of the statements.

Sanchez, who apparently was wounded during the Henderson robbery, had not cut a deal with prosecutors to testify against Vigoa and Suarez, and no deal was in the works, said Coumou, who is the prosecutor in the case.

Sanchez was found hanging from a bed sheet tied to a vent in the ceiling of his cell, said Lt. Marc Joseph, a Metro Police spokesman.

Sanchez was not on suicide watch, but because he was a suspect in a high profile case, he was held in protective custody in the jail, meaning he didn't have contact with other inmates. He was held in a one-man cell, Joseph said.

"They do routine checks on the inmates," Joseph said. "He was checked about midnight and was checked again about 3 a.m."

There had been no previous indications Sanchez was considering suicide and no note was left, Joseph said.

Metro homicide detectives investigated Sanchez's death and believe it was a suicide, but the Clark County coroner will rule on the cause and manner of death this week, Joseph said.

There has been one other suicide and one attempted suicide in the jail this year and two suicides inside the jail in 1999, a Metro spokesman said.

Henderson Police talked with prosecutors over the weekend to discuss Sanchez's death and how it will affect the case.

"Although this certainly concerns us, we believe that when our investigation is complete we will still have a good case against the people involved and get convictions," Mayberry said. "We've already discussed the death of Mr. Sanchez and will be meeting Tuesday to discuss it further."

While one has been charged in connection with the Henderson slayings, police have said they have enough probable cause to make an arrest, but since the suspects are being held there is no rush to file charges.