Woman denies plot to kill her husband

Keith Paul

Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

A woman whose brother allegedly killed her husband for insurance money denies that she had anything to do with her husband's death, her attorney said.

Metro Police arrested John Brian Ray, Susanne Carno's brother, Feb. 8 in connection with the slaying of Richard Carno, and detectives are still investigating allegations of a murder-for-hire plot.

During the investigation two people told detectives that Ray said he was going to kill his brother-in-law for insurance money, according to a police affidavit. According to the report, Ray said he would do a job for his sister and, in turn, receive a large sum of money.

Susanne Carno's attorney said she "absolutely denies any involvement."

"She even told the police the only person she knew that could be an enemy of her husband was her brother," attorney Lamond Mills said.

Detectives are investigating what Ray allegedly said but have found nothing to link Susanne Carno to any plot involving the slaying of her husband, said Lt. Tom Monahan of Metro's homicide unit.

Detectives searched Susanne Carno's North Las Vegas home the day after her brother was arrested. The results of the search have been sealed, as the investigation is ongoing.

"I was there when they searched the house. They didn't find anything," Mills said. "I don't know of any evidence at all implicating her."

Richard Carno was found dead Jan. 31 in his car, which was parked in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North near the trailer park in which Ray had been staying. A bag and rope had been wrapped around Carno's head, according to the police report.

Carno was found a day after his wife reported him missing after he failed to show up for work.

After his body was found Susanne Carno told police her husband didn't get into fights and was easygoing, although he did have problems with her brother.

According to the report, Susanne Carno told detectives that the only person her husband didn't get along with or the only enemy he had was "my brother Brian."

A resident of a trailer park in which Ray was staying told police Ray said he was "going to do a job for my sister, a murder for hire, and he was going to make $50,000 in insurance money by killing his brother-in-law," according to the report.

Monahan said statements in regard to others being involved in the slaying prompted the investigation.

"We can't just ignore it. We will continue investigating until we can prove or disprove those statements," he said.

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