Burned body found in Henderson desert

Richard Brian

Henderson Police officers investigate the area near where a body was found Friday morning in a desert area near Larson Lane and Rome Street.

By Mary Manning (contact)

Published Fri, Nov 21, 2008 (12:09 p.m.)

Updated Fri, Nov 21, 2008 (3:20 p.m.)

Body found in Henderson desert

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

Audio Clip

Henderson Police Lt. Troy Hatch talks about the body discovered south of the Henderson airport
You need to upgrade your Flash Player

Henderson Police officers are investigating a dead and burned body discovered today in a desert area south of the Henderson Executive Airport as a homicide.

The body, found by off-duty police officers doing training about 8:30 a.m. Friday, was so badly burned investigating officers could not tell its gender, said Henderson Police Lt. Troy Hatch.

Mounted police officers helped officers on the ground investigate the scene, which is near the intersection of Larson Lane and Rome Street.

This is the third burned body discovered in a desert setting in the past two weeks.

On Nov. 11, Henderson police contacted Metro Police about two charred bodes discovered by an ATV driver in the southwestern valley. Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said the couple found in a burned car were a boyfriend and a girlfriend in their mid-20s. They were both shot in the back of the head, execution style, he said.

Neither the man nor the woman found near a detention basin near State Route 160 and Fort Apache Road has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office. Police have no suspects in the case and are working to find a motive for the slayings. The car was a Cadillac, but police do not know the make or the year because the vehicle was so badly burned.

Lt. Troy Hatch said it appears there is no connection between the dead couple and the body discovered in Henderson on Friday.

Officer Todd Rasmussen, spokesman for the police department, said the investigation is just getting underway.

The desert scape in the area is marked by dirt roads and piles of rock. It appeared that the body had been dumped, police said.

This is the third homicide in Henderson this year.

Home News photographer Richard Brian contributed to this report.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By Lookin4Li

11/21/08 at 6:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

I pray that this is not my missing daughter.
LiLi disapeared a year ago after spending time with her brother (a US Marine) in San Diego. We were so close to having her back a week ago. She was FORCED into prostitution and jailed in CC. After her release, she as on her way home with a family member when intercepted- threatened and kidnapped by her pimp. Your Local police could have cared less about another young girl who is being forced into human trafficing. They offered ZERO assistance to our family.

Illegal prostitution MUST be Stopped. Human Trafficing MUST be Stopped. The PEOPLE OF LAS VEGAS MUST HOLD THEIR POLICE PROFESSIONALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AND ALLOWING YOUNG GIRLS/WOMEN FROM ALL ACCROSS THE COUNTRY TO BE HARMED.

This burned body could be someone's daughter or sister who is deeply loved and missed.
By lilbitt

12/5/08 at 4:17 p.m.

Suggest removal

yea you are right this is someone's loved one .This my lil cousion a very good kid came from a good home!! we love and we will miss you JJ love your big cousion LIsa
By lilbitt

12/5/08 at 4:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

to the person(s) who charred my cousion like this the police will fine you!!