Local news briefs for February 27, 2001

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2001 | 10:56 a.m.

Three nominees picked for job

The state Judicial Selection Commission Monday selected three nominees to succeed District Judge Merlyn Hoyt of Ely, who retired Jan. 8.

The names sent to Gov. Kenny Guinn for a final appointment were Steve L. Dobrescu, 40 ; Sudabeh P. Fahami, 31, and Rusty D. Jardine, 47, all of Ely. The Seventh Judicial District covers Eureka, Lincoln and White Pine counties.

Seven lawyers applied for the post to succeed Hoyt, who was the senior District Court judge in Nevada, having served since 1973.

Women shot, boy taken

A 21-year-old Las Vegas woman and her mother were shot and killed while on vacation in Baja California, the woman's 2-year-old son and his father are missing, and police believe the boy's father is the killer.

Joanne Escobar was discovered shot to death Saturday morning in the family car. She was sitting in the front passenger seat with a bullet wound to the chest.

Her mother, Joanne Merino, 41, a bellhop for the Luxor, was in the back seat shot in the chest. She died at General Hospital in Colonia Libertad.

A witness told municipal police he saw a man fire directly at the two women.