Couple indicted in death of man, 73

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 11:11 a.m.

A married couple have been indicted on murder charges in the death of an elderly Las Vegas man last year.

The indictment, unsealed Wednesday before District Judge Valerie Adair, charges Keelee Chafford, 33, and James Wade, 51, with multiple felony counts in the Aug. 9, 2002, death of Lloyd Nelson, 73.

The couple face five felony counts, including murder, robbery and kidnapping, all of a victim 65 years or older.

The couple, who were extradited from Northern California, are being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. They are scheduled to be arraigned March 25 before District Judge Jackie Glass.

The couple as of this morning had not been assigned a defense attorney.

Prosecutors suspect Chafford and Nelson had a romantic relationship, Chief Deputy District Attorney David Schwartz said. Nelson had been paying the couple's rent at their condominium on Grey Lane near the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Chafford often cleaned Nelson's home, Schwartz said.

Prosecutors suspect the couple became angry when Nelson stopped paying the rent, Schwartz said.

"This was an ongoing relationship for several years," Schwartz said. "This wasn't something that just happened."

Authorities claim the killing occurred at Nelson's home, in the 3200 block of South Torrey Pines Drive near Desert Inn Road.

The indictment alleges the couple used a rope or handcuffs to bind Nelson's wrists and neck during the beating. Nelson died from asphyxiation due to strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head, according to the indictment.

The indictment also alleges the pair stole several items belonging to Nelson, which included Nelson's GMC Jimmy, a firearm and jewelry.

Schwartz said the couple were believed to have made stops in Utah and Texas before they were arrested in California.