Woman’s death may have been mercy killing

Keith Paul

Tuesday, March 5, 2002 | 10:34 a.m.

A woman found shot in the head as she lay in bed this past weekend may have asked to be killed, though a district attorney said that doesn't protect the shooter from prosecution.

Metro Police about 2:30 p.m. Saturday were called to a house in the 8800 block of Chapman Point Drive near El Capitan Way and Cheyenne Avenue, where they found the body of Gay Renee Shreves, 50, who had been shot to death.

Kenneth A. Costanzo, 51, who was said to be her husband, was at the house with attorney Mace Yampolsky. Costanzo was arrested and booked into the Clark County jail on a murder charge.

Two bullets were found in the pillow under Shreves' head and a .357-caliber handgun registered to Costanzo was found on a telephone book on the floor "a considerable distance away from Shreves," according to the police report.

Chief Deputy Clark County District Attorney Ron Bloxham said the shooting of another person, even if someone asked to be killed, is still a crime. Nevada does not have an assisted suicide law to mitigate such a shooting.

"We have nothing that says it is OK to kill someone who says they want to be killed," Bloxham said. "If you shoot someone that asked to be shot it would still be a crime."

Shreves' son from a previous relationship told police "that his mother was in terrible pain and that she had attempted suicide approximately eight months earlier by overdosing on pills," according to the report.

Her son, who lives in Iowa, said, "If Costanzo shot her, it was because Shreves begged him to do so," the report states.

Yampolsky told detectives Shreves was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and complained of constant pain, the report states.

Yampolsky said three others lived in the house but he doesn't believe the roommates were involved.

"Yampolsky said that Shreves had requested that one of her roommates shot her and tried to provide him with a gun," according to the report. "(Homicide Detective J.) Mitchell asked Yampolsky if Costanzo said that the wounds were self-inflicted, and Yampolsky said they were not."

Costanzo has not admitted to shooting Shreves. Yampolsky said Monday he would not admit that his client shot Shreves. He said he instructed his client not to speak with detectives.

Costanzo also refused an interview request Monday. He is slated to appear in Justice Court later this week.

"In my opinion, after the police complete their investigation, I am hopeful for a quick resolution and it should not be first-degree murder," Yampolsky said.

Yampolsky said he could not reveal additional information about the shooting.

But, according to the report, "He (Yampolsky) said that it was obvious that the wounds were not self-inflicted. Yampolsky said that in his opinion, there was enough probable cause to arrest Costanzo. Yampolsky went on to say that his goal was to negotiate this case before the preliminary hearing."