Local news briefs for October 11, 2000

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 11:04 a.m.

Passenger killed in one-car accident

A Las Vegas man died Tuesday night when the car in which he was riding when out of control and crashed into two block walls.Brian A. Chapman, 20, was riding in a 1996 Saturn driven by 18-year-old Cheyenne Sanders about 11 p.m. when the car sped through a stop sign at Bonanza Road and Los Feliz Street, in the foothills of Sunrise Mountain, Metro Police said.

Sanders lost control, sending the car into a concrete block mail box post, palm tree and block wall before dropping off a five foot embankment, striking a second block wall .

22-year-old LV woman identified

The name of a 22-year-old Las Vegas woman killed Saturday during what Metro Police say was a domestic dispute has been identified as Brandan Humphrey.

Trent Dirden, 20, was booked into the Clark County jail Saturday on murder charges, accused of shooting Humphrey in a Desert Pointe Apartments unit on East Desert Inn Road.

Dirden was found walking through the complex carrying an infant, and Humphrey was found dead in the bedroom of her apartment, police said.

The infant, the 5-month-old daughter of Dirden and Humphrey, was taken to Child Haven until her relatives were located to care for her.

Victim was LV woman, 50

A 50-year-old Las Vegas woman found slain in the desert Thursday in a murder-suicide was identified as Gail L. Quillan.

Her body was found about two miles east of Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas next to the body of her 47-year-old boyfriend. The man's name was not released this morning pending the notification of his family.

Police say the man shot Quillan and then shot himself. Quillan's family reported her missing Oct. 1 and told police they feared for her safety as she attempted to end her relationship with the man.

57-year-old man identified

The name of a 57-year-old Las Vegas man killed in a traffic accident Monday was released Tuesday afternoon.

George M. Miller was trying to cross Las Vegas Boulevard North at Walnut Road Monday about 2:30 a.m. when he was hit by a vehicle driven by Willie Thomas Jr., 42, of Louisiana, Metro Police said.

Miller was not crossing the street at an intersection or using a crosswalk at the time of the accident, police said.

No charges have been filed in the accident, but the investigation is continuing, police said.

Dioceses create lobbying arm

The Roman Catholic Dioceses of Reno and Las Vegas have announced the formation of a legislative lobbying arm.

The creation of the Nevada Catholic Conference was announced this week by Bishop Phillip Straling of Reno and the Rev. Patrick Leary, administrator of the Diocese of Las Vegas.

They said the nonpartisan lobbyists will not endorse candidates but instead tell lawmakers the church's position on government issues that affect religious practices and on moral and ethical matters, including sanctity of human life, poverty, health, education and family life.

V. Robert Payant, retired president of the National Judicial College, has been named executive director of the Nevada Catholic Conference and will be based in Reno.