Bound, gagged body of woman found in desert

Keith Paul

Friday, Feb. 2, 2001 | 11:22 a.m.

The bound and gagged body of a woman who disappeared after dropping off her child was found Thursday in the desert.

It was the 20th homicide this year in the Las Vegas Valley.

The 20-year-old woman, whose name was not released this morning, was found south of the intersection of Sahara Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard about 5:35 p.m. by a person driving a dune buggy, said Lt. Wayne Petersen of the Metro Police homicide unit.

"She was found gagged with her hands bound and fully clothed," Petersen said.

The woman had a head wound, but an autopsy will determine the cause of her death. There are no suspects identified and no known motive for the slaying.

The woman's mother reported her missing earlier in the day Thursday after she never returned home. The woman dropped off her child at the home of the child's father late on Tuesday, Petersen said.

The woman's new boyfriend said she called him later on Tuesday, saying her car was broken down on Boulder Highway. The man said he was not able to locate her, police said.

The woman's car was found near Lamb Boulevard and Carey Avenue, Petersen said.

The woman's death comes after last month's 19 homicides, the third highest single month total ever recorded in the valley. There had been 10 homicides at the same point last year.

Last year ended with 95 homicides, the lowest yearly tally in a decade.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.