LV man to share in reward for capture of sniper suspect

Thursday, April 8, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

Las Vegan Conrad Malsom will share in the reward money for giving Metro Police the tip that he spotted the alleged Ohio highway sniper in a Strip casino, which led to the March 17 capture of Charles A. McCoy Jr.

The 25-member Central Ohio Crime Stoppers board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday to give Malsom $15,000 -- one quarter of the largest reward in the history of that organization.

The bulk of the $60,000 reward, $45,000, will go to an anonymous tipster -- a person or persons believed to be relatives of McCoy -- whose information led to the identification of a suspect and to McCoy's indictment.

"The (anonymous) informant gave the tip that actually identified the suspect, but Mr. Malsom also did a wonderful job, and that is why he is getting a share of the money," Central Ohio Crime Stoppers President Kevin Miles said.

"There was some discussion about it," before the vote was taken at the monthly meeting of the board at a Columbus restaurant.

Miles said conversation among board members focused on concerns that some of the reward money might wind up being used to assist McCoy in his defense.

The reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment -- but not necessarily the conviction -- of the person responsible for the Nov. 25 shooting death of Gail Knisley.

Knisley, 62, was one of 24 alleged victims of the highway shooter and the only one who was struck. She was a passenger in a car en route to a doctor's appointment.

Miles said Malsom did not lobby Crime Stoppers for any of the reward money. In published reports, Malsom has been quoted as saying he felt he was "deserving of some part" of a reward and would accept one if it was offered.

Attempts to reach Malsom on Wednesday were not successful. Crime Stoppers will mail Malsom a check.

Although talkative to the news media after McCoy's arrest, Malsom has said he had his 15 minutes of fame, wanted to get his life back to a level of normalcy and did not do his good deed for publicity purposes.

On March 17, Malsom, 60, thought he saw McCoy in the Stardust and then spent hours tracking him before eventually spotting his car about midnight at a nearby hotel.

McCoy, 28, eventually was arrested in a Las Vegas motel parking lot. He was taken to Ohio and charged with the slaying of Knisley.