Life term given in women’s death

Kim Smith

Monday, April 15, 2002 | 11:08 a.m.

A homeless Las Vegas man who blamed one of his buddies for the brutal death of an elderly friend was sentenced to a no-parole life term this morning for his role in the slaying.

Moments before he was sentenced, Troy Schnabl, 45, told District Judge Sally Loehrer he had no idea that Robert Whitesell, 33, was going to slash Tiffany Averill's throat when he took him to the Averill home to buy some guns.

"I'd like to apologize to the Averill family for the death of my friend, Tiffany," Schnabl said as he stood near Averill's husband, Herbert.

According to prosecutors, Tiffany Averill, 67, died in January 2001 when she let Schnabl, whom she and her husband had helped before, into her home.

Prosecutors suspect either Schnabl or Whitesell slashed the woman's throat, then ransacked the home, stealing an unopened bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, several guns and a fake bomb.

Schnabl told police he took Whitesell and Ernest Valezquez to the home to buy guns from Herbert Averill's extensive collection.

Loehrer noted that few people go to buy guns with no money.

"I feel Mr. Schnabl that if you are not the actual person who killed this person, then you are the most responsible for this murder and for what happened in the Averill home," Loehrer said.

If he hadn't known Whitesell's plan, Schnabl would have stayed to help Tiffany Averill, the judge said.

"He was no friend to the Averills. None whatsoever," Loehrer said.

Deputy District Attorney Lisa Luzaich asked for the no-parole term.

"She was a 67-year-old woman with polio. All they had to do was knock her down. There was no way she could have gone after them," Luzaich said. "They took him in. They gave him food. This was the ultimate betrayal."

Herbert Averill said his family has been devastated and he asked for the maximum sentence. Loehrer also ordered Schnabl to serve a concurrent six- to 15-year sentence for robbery.