Jury can’t decide fate of convicted killer

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002 | 10:14 a.m.

District Judge Sally Loehrer will have to determine the fate of a man convicted Monday in the brutal slaying of a 67-year-old Las Vegas woman.

Jurors were unable to decide if Robert Whitesell, 33, should receive a 40-year to life prison sentence, a no-parole term or 50 to 100 years for the death of Tiffany Averill. As a result, Loehrer will make the final determination next month.

Prosecutors alleged Whitesell slit Averill's throat with a box cutter during a robbery committed in January 2001 by Whitesell, Ernest Valezquez and Averill family friend, Troy Schnabl.

The trio stole a fake bomb, bottle of whiskey and several guns.

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