Police probe two slayings

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001 | 9:47 a.m.

Metro Police were investigating two slayings Tuesday night including one involving a convicted murderer accused of killing a man in Laughlin.

Donald Rinard, 63, was booked into the Tucker Holding Facility in Laughlin Tuesday, accused of killing a 58-year-old man in a fight, Metro Police said.

Rinard had served 17 years in prison for a 1981 murder in Pensacola, Fla., and also has convictions in California for burglary and Iowa for robbery.

Police were called to a gas station in the 3600 block of Needles Highway for a fight about 4:50 p.m. Officers were then directed to a person in the fight that might need help. The officers found the 58-year-old man dead inside a motor home parked next to the Colorado River on River Frontage Road, police said.

Police said Rinard, a transient most recently living in the Laughlin area, apparently knew the other man, however, a motive for the slaying is unclear.

The 58-year-old man's name was not released this morning pending positive identification and family notification.

Homicide detectives are also investigating the slaying of a 42-year-old man found shot to death in the alley near the 2200 block of Sunrise Avenue near Eastern Avenue about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday.

The man's girlfriend told police he left her about 20 to 30 minutes earlier to meet someone in the area where his body was found. Police are trying to identify a suspect and a motive.

The 42-year-old man's name was not released this morning pending positive identification and family notification.