Man arrested in death of elderly parents in Reno

Saturday, June 26, 2004 | 10:02 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - A 55-year-old Reno man was arrested on suspicion of murdering his elderly parents and leaving the bodies in their house for at least a week before notifying authorities about a "medical problem."

John Huntoon was arrested Friday after he was questioned for several hours by police about the deaths of William Huntoon, 86, and his wife, Emily, 84.

Police Lt. Ron Holladay said it appeared the couple had been dead for at least a week and possibly two weeks based on the decomposition of their bodies.

John Huntoon called police early Friday morning to report "a medical problem with his parents that had unusual circumstances," Holladay said.

The son, who lived with his parents at the Twin Pines Road house, led authorities to the garage where the bodies were found.

It appeared the couple suffered blunt force trauma and was suffocated, Hollday said.

"It was shocking inside ... It was hard to tell what their wounds were because they were so decomposed," he said.

Since June 2002, police were called to the family's home 10 times, including twice for family disturbances and once for a suicide threat, police said.

John Huntoon was convicted of battering his wife in 2001 and of drunken driving in 2002.

In 2003, he and his wife divorced after three years of marriage. It was at least his third marriage, according to court records.

John Huntoon, who told police he served in the military, was being held Saturday without bail in the Washoe County Jail.

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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal