Pamplin pleads guilty in stabbing death of his wife

Kim Smith

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

As tears streamed down his face, a 31-year-old Las Vegas man apologized Wednesday for slashing his wife to death in front of at least one of their three small children.

John Pamplin pleaded guilty in July to first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse in connection with the May 16 death of LaTasha Pamplin, 30.

On Wednesday, District Judge Lee Gates sentenced Pamplin to life in prison with parole possible after 28 years. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Pamplin could have been eligible for parole after as little as 24 years.

Deputy District Attorney Conrad Klaus said LaTasha Pamplin, a medical company biller, was killed because she had decided to leave her 12-year marriage after years of abuse. John Pamplin also suspected his wife was having an affair.

On the night she died, her car was packed and her husband managed to persuade her to come back inside the house, Klaus said.

They argued and then LaTasha Pamplin went to sleep beside her 3-year-old and 6-year-old daughters in her children's room, Klaus said. The couple's 8-year-old son slept on a bunk bed above them.

"Their 6-year-old daughter told police she saw her father hit her mother and when they asked her if he had anything in his hand when he hit her, she said he had a knife," Klaus said.

LaTasha Pamplin fought for her life all the way from the bedroom to the front door, where she bled to death, Klaus said.

John Pamplin then tried to kill himself by taking sleeping pills and slashing his wrists and neck, Klaus said.

Pamplin apologized to his family and his wife's family before he was sentenced. He told Gates he had a tremendous amount of rage built up inside him that day.

"I know I done wrong," John Pamplin told Gates. "But, as you can see by the amount of times my wife was stabbed, that wasn't me."

Defense attorney William Terry told Gates that his client agreed to take the plea agreement to spare his children from testifying at a trial. He hopes one day to be able to see them again.

Gates sentenced Pamplin after hearing various family members testify about the devastation wrought by Pamplin's actions.

Vivian Williams, LaTasha's mother, began sobbing when she described taking her grandchildren to their mother's grave to celebrate her birthday.

She said she hopes Pamplin "never, ever sees the light of day."

Gates said he didn't care if Pamplin had literally caught his wife in bed with another man, he had no right to take her life.

LaTasha Pamplin's death was about nothing more than "selfishness, ego and male chauvinism," Gates said.

"There is nothing worse to do to a kid than to take away his mother and to do this in front of them. ... I have no sympathy for you, none whatsoever," Gates said.