2 women arrested in July death of 95-year-old woman

By Rich Coleman

Published Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 | 4:44 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 | 5:48 p.m.

Metro Police arrested two women in connection with the July attempted robbery and death of a 95-year-old woman in a grocery store parking lot.

Teresa Meamber, 30, and Kierstie Manning, 19, face charges of murder of a victim over 60, attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and willful/wanton disregard of human life. Both women are being held at Clark County Detention Center without bail.

Shortly before 10 a.m. July 26, Metro received a 911 call reporting an attempted robbery in the Smith's parking lot in the 4800 block of West Desert Inn Road. Police said 95-year-old Bertha Meier was walking through the parking lot when one of the women tried to steal her purse.

According to the criminal complaint, the two women approached Meier from behind in a Nissan Sentra. One of the women jumped out and grabbed Meier’s purse and knocked her to the ground, which broke her hip. Meier was able to keep her purse, the report said.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment and died as a result of her injuries on Aug. 16, police said.

The complaint alleges Meamber left Las Vegas after learning Meier had died. She was arrested Nov. 22 in Los Angeles and Metro detectives interviewed her the next day at Los Angeles County Jail. Meamber told police she and Manning had gone to Smith's so Manning could get money to bail her boyfriend out of jail.

On Monday, detectives interviewed Manning when she told police they initially went to the Palms to steal a purse. They then traveled to Smith's, where Manning saw Meier in the store and decided she would be an easy target because her purse was on the seat of the shopping cart, she told police.

Metro Lt. Lew Roberts with the homicide bureau credited good surveillance video and citizens' help through Crime Stoppers for leading to the arrest of the two suspects.

"It's always nice to have retailers who are diligent in having working video," he said.

Meamber is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning and Manning is scheduled to appear Friday morning.

Sun reporter Jackie Valley contributed to this report.