Suspect in wife’s slaying in Pennsylvania found downtown

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002 | 11:13 a.m.

Hours after reportedly calling Fox News and saying he killed his wife with an ax in Pennsylvania, a man was nabbed downtown Tuesday night by Metro Police.

Lt. Jim Moses of the Criminal Apprehension Team said Pennsylvania State Police were seeking Gregory Scott Vasilisin, 40, on charges of killing his wife, Kendra, 34, at their Warren, Pa. home on Monday.

About 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, a man called Fox News in New York City and said he killed his wife, then hung up, police said. The receptionist got his phone number off the caller ID and called New York City Police.

After making the call, Moses said the man hopped a U.S. Airways flight to Las Vegas.

The number was traced to Vasilisin, and New York authorities alerted Pennsylvania State Police. Troopers entered Vasilisin's home and found his wife, Kendra, dead in the bedroom wrapped in blankets and sheets with severe head trauma, possibly caused by an ax or similar object, Moses said.

After police found evidence that showed Vasilisin fled to Las Vegas, a warrant was issued for his arrest. The criminal apprehension team of Metro Police was notified, and Vasilisin's photograph and a copy of the warrant was faxed and e-mailed to Moses.

Vasilisin served time in Nevada for robbery and drug use, which gave detectives an idea as to where he might be hiding.

"My feeling was that if they think he's coming to Vegas, and he's a drug user, he'd be downtown," Moses said.

Detectives faxed Vasilisin's photograph and description of the crime to security personnel at all the major hotels. Moses and his partners walked around downtown for hours with Vasilisin's wedding photo in hand.

They spotted him Tuesday night near Casino Center Boulevard and Fremont Street. They followed him into Binion's Horseshoe, Moses said.

They approached Vasilisin, and Moses said he stiffened up and resisted. They pushed him up against a slot machine and handcuffed him.

Moses said Vasilisin had persuaded a man he met downtown to rent a room for him at the Ambassador Inn at 916 E. Fremont St. using the man's name. Detectives obtained a warrant to search Vasilisin's room and seized drugs. Vasilisin also had several thousand dollars when arrested.

He was booked for murder and is being held in Clark County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Las Vegas is a popular place for fugitives because they want to party, and they want to blend in with the crowds of tourists, Moses said.

"It's not as easy as they think," he said.