Woman arrested in death of her husband

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002 | 11:13 a.m.

Metro Police arrested a 56-year-old Laughlin woman this morning in connection with the stabbing death of her estranged husband.

Margaret Joyce Modelfino was taken into custody in Laughlin. She is charged in the death of her husband, Gino Modelfino, 66, a retired electrician.

Homicide Sgt. Rocky Alby said concerned neighbors called police Sunday because they hadn't seen Gino Modelfino for several days.

Officers assigned to Metro's Laughlin substation found Gino Modelfino dead in the house in the 3100 block of Cottonwood Drive in Laughlin, about 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas. His body was bloody but it was immediately apparent that he had been the victim of a homicide, Alby said.

Gino Modelfino's body was taken to the Clark County coroner's office. While the autopsy results were pending, detectives returned to the house and searched it for evidence.

The autopsy was completed Tuesday morning. It showed he suffered a single stab wound that had not been visible by officers at the scene, Alby said.