News briefs for July 16, 2003

Wednesday, July 16, 2003 | 9:19 a.m.

Deaths called murder-suicide

Metro Police suspect that an elderly man and woman found dead in their home Tuesday died as a result of murder-suicide stemming from despair over health and financial difficulties.

Dorothy Hudleson, 74, and Albert Hudleson, 71, were found dead about 11 a.m. in their condominium in the 3500 block of Homecrest Drive in eastern Las Vegas by their adult daughter, who had come to check on them.

Police said it appears Albert Hudleson shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. It was not clear when the shooting occurred. The investigation will be conducted by Metro homicide detectives.

Neighbor Jerry Ryan, 56, said the idea of a homicide was shocking in his typically quiet gated community.

"We've hardly had even a minor burglary in here in the last 10 years," he said. "This area's a pretty good secret in Las Vegas."

Ryan said he didn't really know the Hudlesons, who lived two doors down.

"I'd just see him come outside to smoke once in awhile," he said.

Traffic stop leads

to suspect's arrest

North Las Vegas Police arrested a man wanted in connection with the slaying of two men after a traffic stop on Tuesday night.

Officers stopped a vehicle about 7 p.m. near D Street and Judson Avenue, North Las Vegas Police spokesman Justin Roberts said.

One man inside the car was suspected in the slaying of Kenneth Banks and Matthew Carter on June 29. The shooting victims were found at an apartment complex at 2125 Las Vegas Blvd. North about 10:15 p.m.

Investigators discovered that several people were arguing outside the apartments when shots were fired.

Robert Waddell was taken to the North Las Vegas Police Department and interviewed by detectives Tuesday night, Roberts said.

He was later booked into the North Las Vegas Detention Center on a charge of murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

North Las Vegas detectives are still investigating the homicides and are seeking other possible suspects, Roberts said.

Park Service plans Lake Mead projects

The National Park Service is asking the public for comments on alternatives and issues for several projects proposed at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Among the projects being considered are converting Hemenway Campground at Boulder Beach to a group camping area; rehabilitating picnic facilities at Rogers and Blue Point springs; grading, draining and paving the Princess Cove access road and the Boulder Beach Shoreline Road; and rehabilitating Government Dock, next to Lake Mead Marina that houses the Park Service.

For further information on any of the projects, contact environmental compliance specialist Nancy Hendricks at (702) 293-8756.

To submit written comments or to get on the recreation area's project mailing list, write: Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Attention: Environmental Compliance Specialist, 601 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV, 89005.

Comments will be accepted until Aug. 18.

Extortion trial might be delayed

Lawyers for a California couple accused of trying to extort money from singer Celine Dion's husband said Tuesday that they might withdraw from the case, and a trial next month might have to be postponed.

Yun Kyeong Kwon Sung, 47, and her husband Ae Ho Kwon, 50, were due for trial Aug. 25 in Clark County District Court.

Lawyers Robert Langford and JoNell Thomas said they might ask a judge on July 22 to let them withdraw from representing Sung and Kwon, respectively.

Kwon said in an interview after a brief court hearing that he and his wife were having trouble paying legal fees.

Langford said new attorneys would need time to prepare a defense. He said a change would bring to six the number of lawyers to represent the Pasadena, Calif., couple since they alleged in March 2001 that Dion's husband and manager, Rene Angelil, raped Sung at a Las Vegas Strip hotel.

Kwon is free on bail. Sung remains in custody at the Clark County Detention Center. They face charges of demanding millions of dollars from Angelil after agreeing to settle the rape claim against him for $2 million.

Sung also faces trial next month on separate felony bad check charges. She is accused of failing to repay Harrah's Las Vegas hotel-casino $500,000 worth of casino markers, or loans, she obtained in May 2001.

Sung also faces other charges in Las Vegas Justice Court, alleging she failed to repay $400,000 in casino loans to the Mandalay Bay hotel-casino in May 2001.