Police seek man in death of retired major

Wednesday, June 16, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

Police this morning were again looking for an ex-convict who is charged with two weeks ago beating a 51-year-old retired Air Force major into a coma.

The victim, retired Major Michael Born, died at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at University Medical Center's Trauma Intensive Care Unit, where he had been on life support since June 2, a hospital spokesman said.

Police said they expected to obtain an arrest warrant this morning charging Garrett with murder.

Born's family intends to donate his organs for transplants so others may live, brother Larry Born said in a voice mail message on Tuesday.

Raymond Garrett, 37, was released on bail from jail Sunday -- two days before his bail was revoked for charges that had been pending against him for four months.

Garrett was released on bail from the Clark County Detention Center in connection with the June 2 beating even though he was charged with felonies for a separate case in February that also allegedly involved a violent crime.

Garrett, who has a Las Vegas criminal history dating back to 1986, had been booked into the detention center on Feb. 11 on felony charges of robbery, battery with substantial bodily harm and battery with intent to commit robbery. The details of that case were not immediately available.

He subsequently was released after posting $14,000 bail and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on those charges in Las Vegas Justice Court on July 26, District Attorney David Roger said.

In connection with the June 2 parking lot assault, Garrett was initially charged with robbery and battery with intent to commit robbery, both felonies.

Garrett "will definitely be faced with murder charges if the victim is taken off of life support and he will be eligible for the death penalty," Roger said.

On Tuesday -- after learning about Garrett's arrest for the Wal-Mart parking lot assault that left Born on life support -- the district attorney's office succeeded in getting Garrett's bail revoked for the February case.

According to Metro Police, Garrett was arrested without incident at his home on June 12, 10 days after someone approached Born about 10:30 p.m. on June 2 in the Wal-Mart parking lot at Stewart Avenue and Nellis Boulevard. Metro Police Sgt. Rick Barela said that Born was replacing the battery in his car when he was assaulted.

Police identified Garrett as the suspect in the case with the help of video surveillance tapes from Wal-Mart.

Police had a search warrant and were looking for Garrett this morning.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. told police that the company would accommodate relatives of Born who were flying in from San Antonio, Texas, police said.

According to police, Garrett had misdemeanor convictions in 1986 for grand larceny and in 1989 for carrying a concealed weapon. In 1990 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for robbery and burglary.

Sun reporters

Mary Manning and Jen Lawson contributed to this story.