Missing man found slain in his car

Keith Paul

Friday, Feb. 1, 2002 | 9:59 a.m.

A 36-year-old North Las Vegas man who had been reported missing was found slain Thursday in his car, which was parked on Las Vegas Boulevard North.

Metro Police were called to the 3900 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North between Lamb and Nellis boulevards about 7:40 a.m. Thursday when a passerby saw a body in a parked car. The man was identified as Richard Carno, who was reported missing Wednesday morning by his family.

There was no obvious cause of death, and an autopsy is scheduled for this morning, said Lt. Tom Monahan of Metro's homicide unit.

"There were no apparent gunshot wounds, but there is evidence on the body and the scene to indicate it was a murder," he said.

Monahan would not reveal what evidence was found, saying the slaying remains under investigation. No motive for the killing has been determined and no suspect has been arrested. Carno's car was towed to Metro's crime lab to be searched for evidence.

Carno was reported missing by his family about 9 a.m. Wednesday after he left his home at 4:30 a.m. and didn't show up for work, said Lt. Art Redcay, a North Las Vegas Police spokesman.

The family started calling hospitals then called North Las Vegas Police to report his disappearance, Redcay said.

Metro Police aren't positive as to when Carno was killed, but they suspect his body would not have gone unnoticed for a long period.

"The car was parked in a space along the side of the street in a commercial area," he said.

Carno's slaying is the 10th homicide in Metro's jurisdiction so far this year, compared with 20 at the same point last year.

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