Autopsy may shed light on two deaths

Keith Paul

Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2001 | 10:40 a.m.

Henderson Police today were trying to determine if the couple found dead in their home Monday were victims of a homicide or if their deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.

An autopsy scheduled today was expected to provide some of the answers to detectives' questions about the two badly burned bodies found inside the master bedroom at 90 Parker Ranch Drive.

Sonny B. Thaker, Yudit Thaker and her son from a previous marriage lived in the house. Police have not identified the bodies and are not positive if they are the residents of the house.

The boy was found unharmed with relatives, said Officer Terry Bowler, a police spokesman.

The boy was apparently not picked up from school Monday afternoon. After not being able to contact the boy's parents, another relative was called to pick up the boy, police said.

Police are still searching for the woman's ex-husband but were not able to locate him Tuesday. Detectives received some information the man may be in California.

The two bodies were discovered after firefighters were called to the house on Parker Ranch Drive, a new community near Gibson Road and Lake Mead Drive. The fire and an apparent explosion gutted the master bedroom and blew out widows on the house.

Sonny Thaker was a dealer a Harrah's and Yudit Thaker was a dealer at the MGM Grand, according to work card records. The pair married in September 1999 and moved into the house on Parker Ranch Drive in April.