crime:

Coroner identifies three found dead in murder-suicide

Published Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 | 2:12 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 | 3:54 p.m.

Approximate location

Three found dead in southeast valley house (10-21-2009)

The Clark County Coroner's Office has identified a family of three in a murder-suicide that occurred Wednesday in the eastern Las Vegas Valley.

The coroner's office said 75-year-old Genevieve Okin was found with a gunshot wound to her head in the front seat of a vehicle in a garage at 4775 Canna Drive, near Tropicana Avenue and Boulder Highway. The coroner ruled her death a homicide.

Her 80-year-old husband, Paul Okin, was found on the floor of the garage. His cause of death was ruled a suicide and he died of a gunshot to the head, a coroner's spokeswoman said.

The couple's 46-year-old son, Marque Okin, was found in a bedroom, the coroner said. He had been shot in the head and his death was ruled a homicide.

Metro Police went to the house about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving complaints of a natural gas odor in the area.

Clark County firefighters were called to the residence and entered the house. They found a gas stove turned on. Southwest Gas crews later said the natural gas was not at lethal levels.

Acquaintances of the family said the woman had been diagnosed with lung cancer on Tuesday.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By goingbust

10/22/09 at 2:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

33 and 1/3rd!
By dcvegas80

10/25/09 at 9:14 a.m.

Suggest removal

So ignorant...
By dcvegas80

10/25/09 at 9:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

God Bless Marque... I knew him. He was a great guy.
By jdcc2009

11/14/09 at 9:46 p.m.

Suggest removal

These people were the sweetest and most loving family I know...Even if they didn't agree with one another, they did care about each other...Jean, she was a real trooper, no matter what was going on in her life or others, she was a fighter. Paul, he was the funniest person I ever knew, he used comedy to hide his frustrations, and all he ever wanted was to be liked, he worked very hard for his family for many, many years and Marque, he didn't have a lot of options, but what ever he had, if he could he would do his best to make it all work out, even if he asked you to help him along the way. That day I spoke to Marque, he was in a good mood, and he was looking forward to helping take care of his mother and help keep his father who was at that time beside himself with grief that his beloved wife was terminally ill, and had started her chemotherapy that day. They didn't want to talk to me under the circumstances, I understood. Also, Marque felt that they were there for him through his troubled years, and he wanted to be there for them at this time of his parent's trials. I spoke to him that day, and it must have been either that evening or the day after this tragedy transpired.

I remember how Genevieve (Jean) was so happy with her home in Green Valley/Las Vegas. They had gone through the horrible, violent Northridge Earthquake in Van Nuys, California in 93/94, and their home that they had lived in for many, many years had split in half so they had moved to Las Vegas to retire. She had worked many years at the Beverly Hills Hotel (that's where I met her, she was my boss and we became friends) and Paul he was a mailman, braving the elements and rabid dogs to bring people their mail each day and he worked as a hairstylist to bring in the bacon and raise two boys the best he could with what monies they earned. Marque was funny, and had a great sense of humor, which not only his brother Michael has, but also, his whole family was hilarious. For the most part, they always found the silver lining, until this one day, there was no silver lining, and cruel hard facts were staring them back in their face.

I loved them, and I forgive them, and I hope they can forgive themselves, and that God's love will triumph over everything, even this.

Good night, my fair Genevieve, you lil rascal, and Paul, love isn't always enough to stop the pain and suffering for others, but know that I care and love you, and Marque...my friend, my dear friend, I will always remember your noble smile, your how your eye would wander sometimes, but you were quite handsome, I am so happy I got to talk with you just before all this. Love you...Love you all...please rest now in the bosom of God, and lay quiet your fears and troubles at the feet of our Lord. Sleep...rest..

Jayne

Miss you already....Jayne in Lost Angeles