Murder charge also awaits Californian, authorities say

Keith Paul

Wednesday, April 25, 2001 | 11:24 a.m.

Prosecutors anticipate charging a California man accused of running down a trooper within a week in connection with the slaying of a woman found dead in a motel.

"He is absolutely going to be charged with the murder," Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas said.

Daskas was granted permission this morning in Justice Court to delay the filing of formal charges against Vornelius Jamal Phillips, 25, until next week. Daskas said he is awaiting additional DNA and fingerprint evidence to charge Phillips in the death of 40-year-old Ivy Jean Miller.

Nearly 50 law enforcement officers filled the courtroom of Justice of the Peace James Bixler this morning as Phillips made his initial appearance. Phillips was arrested on charges of running down Nevada State Patrol Trooper Robert "Bobby" Kintzel Saturday with a hijacked sport utility vehicle.

Kintzel remained in critical condition this morning at University Medical Center.

Daskas said the slaying of Miller and Phillips' subsequent run from police in a hijacked cab and then a hijacked SUV is the continuation of one event, and Phillips could face the death penalty.

"It's too early to know if the death penalty will be sought, but I can tell you the facts there are aggravating (factors)," he said. "It would qualify as a death penalty case, but it needs to go before the death penalty case review."

Metro Police are awaiting results from DNA testing and other physical evidence, Lt. Wayne Petersen of the homicide unit said.

But Daskas said there is already some physical evidence to tie Phillips to the Budget Suites motel room where Miller was found strangled to death.

Miller's body was not found until about an hour after the end of the high-speed chase with Phillips.

Phillips, a parolee from California on a robbery conviction, is being held in the Clark County jail on attempted murder of a police officer and several other charges.

He is accused of running over Kintzel while the trooper was putting down metal spikes to puncture the tires of Phillips' fleeing vehicle on U.S. 95 near Flamingo Road about 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

After the trooper was hit, a Metro Police officer rammed the stolen SUV to end the chase.

A Maryland tourist injured during the chase, Joan Lewis, remained in serious condition in the hospital this morning.

Police give this account of events:

Phillips hailed a cab near the Las Vegas Convention Center and went to McCarran International Airport. He then got behind the wheel of another cab while the driver was handling baggage and sped off.

Lewis was in the back seat of the cab as it sped off and later jumped out when Phillips refused to stop and let her out, police said. When traffic slowed because of another accident, Phillips allegedly approached another driver and forced his way behind the wheel of an SUV. The driver escaped the truck.

The chase then continued on Interstate 215 toward Henderson and included officers from Henderson, Boulder City, Metro and the National Park Service police.

Sun reporter Kim Smith

contributed to this report.