Slayings suspect allegedly returns to scene of crime

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

Preparing for a memorial service Sunday for his slain mother and sister, Chris Gautier returned to the home where they were killed and was allegedly attacked by the murder suspect, Metro Police say.

Timmy J. Weber, who has been on the run from police since the April 4 double-homicide of Kim Gautier and her 15-year-old son, Anthony, attacked 17-year-old Chris Gautier with a baseball bat when the teen went home just before noon Sunday to get clothing, Metro homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Gautier was with a friend and the pair battled Weber with bats stored behind the front door, Monahan said. All three were injured.

"It was him," Chris Gautier told the Sun, pointing to a gash on the right side of his head which was bleeding. "Weber was in there."

Weber was reportedly crouched behind the door when Gautier tried to enter the home, which had been released from police security on Friday.

"This is one desperate person," Monahan said. "I wouldn't call him dumb, I'd call him evil."

Monahan said he had never seen any suspect act like Weber.

"I cannot remember a suspect returning to the scene of the crime," Monahan said.

Chris Gautier's friend drove an SUV into the house trying to stop Weber, friends on the scene said, but Weber escaped out a back door and ran north.

Metro Police barricaded Bonanza Road, Main Street, Washington Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard North, Lt. Vincent Cannito said, and spent much of the night searching the neighborhood.

Officers rushed to the scene north of downtown Fremont Street searching for Weber. Gautier and his friend were driven to University Medical Center for treatment. A hospital spokesman refused to release the whereabouts or condition of the two victims, because Weber was still on the loose.

At the height of the search 45 officers from around the Las Vegas Valley, including uniformed officers, detectives and SWAT team members conducted house-to-house searches into the night.

Eight K-9 units accompanied armed officers in the search.

Judy Hernandez, 15, said she had stayed at the Gautier home last summer and that Anthony Gautier was her first boyfriend. They were sophomores at Rancho High School, she said.

Hernandez's mother, Natalie Chavez, said she had known Kim Gautier for more than six years. "We were both single mothers," Chavez said.

Anything any of the Gautier children wanted, Weber paid for, Chavez said. "He took us to McDonald's," she said, holding a bouquet of red silk roses. "He didn't look like the type (to become violent). He was quiet."

Sarah Revere, another school friend, was riding a CAT bus to the memorial service when she saw the police. She got off the bus and discovered what had happened and learned from other friends what had happened.

"Chris was running away from TJ because he thought he might kill him," Revere said, her eyes filling with tears.

A memorial service for the Gautiers was canceled indefinitely at Palm Mortuary, 1325 Main St. About 35 friends of the family came to the parking lot.