Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Police: Strangling suspect tied to Craigslist attack on transsexual

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Michael Lane

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A man suspected in the death of a woman found strangled in her garage is facing charges in connection with a separate incident in which he allegedly solicited a transsexual man for sex on Craigslist and then, after an argument, attempted to run the person over with his vehicle.

Michael Lane, 34, who police named Tuesday as a suspect in the death of 44-year-old Ginger Candela, found dead in her home in the 3100 block of Westfield Street on Nov. 30, has been charged in an attack on the transsexual man that allegedly occurred Nov. 24 near Sunrise Hospital.

The vehicle used in the alleged attack was registered to Candela, with whom Lane had been living, according to an arrest report released Wednesday. The arrest warrant was issued Dec. 2.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office has ruled Candela’s death a homicide. She died from strangulation, with blunt head trauma as a significant contributing factor, a coroner’s spokeswoman said today.

Lane is facing one count of attempted murder with a deadly weapon, one count of battery with a deadly weapon and one count of leaving the scene of an accident in connection with the alleged attack on the man. Police said Tuesday that Lane hasn’t been charged in Candela’s death, but is a suspect in her death and had been questioned in California, where he was taken into custody.

Police say Lane, a British citizen, has been involved with spiritual healing and motivational speaking. He might have befriended women in that way and possibly defrauded them without their knowledge, authorities said.

Police are still seeking information about Lane, whom they say also goes by the name “Chae Saville.” Raised in London, he is known to have spent time in Las Vegas, San Diego and Portland, Ore. He might have lived in the Philippines at some point, and police believe he might still have a daughter who lives there, authorities said.

On Nov. 24, the alleged male victim made contact with another man on Craigslist who identified himself as “Michael.” Michael, later identified by police as Michael Lane, told the man online that he lived in Las Vegas and wanted to meet a transsexual male, according to the police report.

The two arranged a meeting and Lane came to the alleged victim’s home in the 300 block of Harmon Avenue at about 2 a.m., the report said. The two men then left the residence in Lane’s maroon sport utility vehicle, police said.

Lane drove the man to a residence in the 3100 block of Westfield Street, where the two were intimate, then fell asleep, according to police. After waking up, the male victim asked Lane for a ride home and they got into the SUV, the man told police.

That was when Lane got angry, the man said, because Lane had wanted to continue sleeping.

The alleged victim became fearful and called his uncle for a ride, which prompted an argument between Lane and the man, police said. Lane stopped the vehicle near Sombrero Drive and Arabella Street and ordered the man to get out, which he did, and he began to walk toward the sidewalk, again using his cell phone to call his uncle.

As he was walking, the man heard the SUV accelerate and saw the vehicle driving toward him at about 35 mph, he told police. The front of the vehicle struck him, knocking him under a fence and causing part of the bumper to break off, the report says.

Lane then allegedly got out of the vehicle and punched the man, police said.

Two witnesses yelled at Lane to stop and the alleged victim asked the witnesses to get the license plate number of the SUV, the report said. Both witnesses told police the vehicle had personalized South Dakota plates that read CHARIS.

The man’s uncle heard the commotion over the phone. The uncle responded to the scene and found the man under an iron fence, according to the report.

The alleged victim was taken to Sunrise Hospital, where he was treated for injuries that included a broken collarbone, injured ribs and severe abrasions to his shins, police said. He also had an irregular heartbeat, possibly caused from bruising, police said.

The man described to his uncle the house where he was taken. His uncle drove to the area and found a home matching the description in the 3100 block of Westfield Street. The home was the same residence where Candela was found dead.

In the course of the missing person investigation in Candela’s case, police learned about the uncle’s attempt to find information about the man driving the maroon SUV. Witnesses told police the missing woman owned a vehicle matching the description of the one used in the alleged attack Nov. 24.

Candela’s adult daughter told police that a British man was living at the residence. He had recently arrived in the United States, she said.

A description she gave police of the man living with her mother matched a description given by the alleged victim of the man who attacked him with his vehicle, the report said.

On Dec. 1, when contacted by investigators, the man picked Lane from a photo lineup. He also turned over to police a part of the maroon vehicle he said his uncle had found at the scene.

Metro Police are asking anyone with information about Lane or Candela’s death to contact the homicide section at 828-3521. Additionally, Candela’s family is seeking information about her dog, a Chihuahua named “Gi Gi” that Lane might have given away to an unknown woman on the Strip. Callers who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

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