LV man is convicted in ‘99 shooting death

Kim Smith

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001 | 8:53 a.m.

After more than two days of deliberations, a Clark County jury convicted a Las Vegas man of first-degree murder Wednesday in connection with the March 1999 death of a man he owed $1,500.

The jury also convicted Robin McGinness of first-degree kidnapping and robbery, meaning he will face multiple life terms when sentenced by District Judge Kathy Hardcastle Jan. 28.

McGinness was accused of shooting Henry Doepke to death.

According to court records, Doepke was last seen leaving his apartment in the early morning hours of March 21, 1999.

Police found his truck parked at a bar a couple of weeks later, and McGinness quickly became their prime suspect. Detectives found a notebook inside Doepke's car with McGinness' Budget Suites' room number scrawled inside, according to court documents.

During a search of McGinness' room, police found scraps of paper, two guns, flex ties, gloves and duct tape. When crime-scene analysts put the scraps of paper together, they found references to "securing" someone and to Mesquite.

McGinness denied having anything to with Doepke's disappearance, but admitted to using his credit cards after finding Doepke's wallet on his couch, according to court documents.

McGinness also admitted he owed Doepke $1,500.

Because police had not found a body, prosecutors moved forward on credit card-related charges.

McGinness pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card and possession of stolen property. He was sentenced in October 1999 to 14 to 48 months in prison.

One month later portions of a skeleton, along with a pair of dentures and prescription glasses, were found near Mesquite off Interstate 15.

The remains were identified weeks later as Doepke's. An autopsy revealed Doepke had been shot once in the head with a .40-caliber weapon and had suffered a facial fracture after being struck in the face.

A further investigation revealed that the likely murder weapon -- a Heckler and Koch .40-caliber handgun -- had been stolen from one of McGinness' roommates.

On June 15, 2000 -- the day McGinness was paroled from the Nevada Department of Prisons -- he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center to await trial in connection with Doepke's death.

Although a jury normally sentences people convicted of first-degree murder, McGinness opted to have the judge sentence him.