Two women’s bodies found at same LV apartment complex

Eric Leake and Mary Manning

Wednesday, May 4, 2005 | 11:22 a.m.

Metro Police are investigating the deaths of two women whose bodies were found hours apart at the same southeastern Las Vegas apartment complex Tuesday.

A 25-year-old mother, Rena Gonzales, was discovered by her two daughters, ages 7 and 5, when they came home from school about 4 p.m. to the Silver Pines apartment complex at 6650 East Russell Road near Boulder Highway, police said.

Both girls saw their mother before they left for school Tuesday morning, Metro Sgt. Rocky Alby said. There is no indication of how long she was dead, but police said a telephone cord was wrapped around her neck.

Earlier in the day across the apartment complex, Marilee Coote, 45, was found dead inside her apartment, police said. There was no immediate sign of trauma, police said.

The coroner will determine the causes of death for both women, police said.

"We have no indication they (the deaths) are related right now, other than they were in the same apartment complex," Alby said.

Pauline Gonzales is the grandmother of Rena Gonzales. She said she also legally adopted and raised Rena as her daughter.

She said she had no theories as to why the young mother was killed. She also said she did not know if Rena Gonzales had a boyfriend. "She was a very private girl, with me, anyway. The mother's always the last one to know.

"She was lovely, a good mother who took care of her little girls ... I helped her all I could.

"I had a beautiful day with my daughter yesterday, a very, very good day, not knowing it was the last day I'd see her alive," Pauline Gonzales said.

She said she and Rena spent the day shopping together.

She said the two girls said they found their mother face down on the edge of her bed.

"She always goes to the bus stop and gets them. They couldn't figure out why she wasn't there. So they just went home."

She said a neighbor called police.

The children were staying with the second set of grandparents Tuesday night, police said.