Two held in Odyssey bartender’s killing

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

Two men are being held this morning in the Clark County Detention Center in connection with the Monday homicide of a 70-year-old bartender at a Fremont street tavern.

Kevin Martinette, 27, was arrested Tuesday night on charges of murder and robbery of a victim over 65.

Randall Stafford, 33, was arrested for possession of stolen property and receiving stolen property.

Homicide detectives believe Martinette bludgeoned graveyard shift bartender, Terry Petropoulos, during a robbery at the Odyssey Lounge, 1930 Fremont St., and stole money and property as well as the bartender's car.

Police received a tip on the Crime Stoppers line from a citizen who said he thought he knew who might have killed Petropoulos. Officers obtained a search warrant for the Valley Motel, 1313 Fremont St., and arrested the two men shortly afterward.

Both men were taken to University Medical Center to be treated for unrelated medical problems before they were jailed. Martinette was released from the hospital and booked into the jail Tuesday night.

Stafford also was released from the hospital Tuesday night, but jail officials refused to book him because of a medical condition, Monahan said. He was taken back to the hospital, treated again and taken back to the jail.

Because of medical privacy laws Monahan could not comment on their medical problems.

Martinette was known to be a heroin user, he said.

Petropoulos' 1983 Mercury was found in a parking garage at the California hotel on Ogden Avenue, less than a mile from the motel where the men were arrested.

An autopsy showed Petropoulos died of blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.