Police: Woman’s death followed argument over payment for sex

By Tiffany Gibson

Published Monday, May 3, 2010 | 9:40 a.m.

Updated Monday, May 3, 2010 | 1:55 p.m.

UPDATED STORY: Bail set at $250,000 for man accused of dumping woman in desert

Boulder City Police arrested a 34-year-old man Monday in connection with the death of a woman found in the desert west of U.S. 95 south this past weekend.

Harold Marin-Velasquez has been arrested on one charge of murder in the death of 43-year-old Edis Hernandez-Quintanilla.

Her body was found about 9:30 a.m. Saturday by a police officer. Marin-Velasquez told detectives he met Hernandez-Quintanilla at the Silver Saddle Saloon on Charleston Boulevard and Fremont Street. He alleged that she agreed to have sex with him for $50 inside his 2004 GMC Yukon.

An altercation arose between the two when Hernandez-Quintanilla asked for more money, an arrest report indicated. Marin-Velasquez told officers Hernandez-Quintanilla began choking him but he blocked her hands because he practices martial arts. He then began choking her until she went limp, the report said.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office said she died of asphyxiation and ruled her death a homicide.

After allegedly dumping her body in the desert, Marin-Velasquez began to speed off in his car and was pulled over by a Boulder City police officer. The officer noticed Marin-Velasquez looked disheveled and had dried blood on his shirt and pants. He also found Hernandez-Quintanilla’s driver’s license in the vehicle.

A detective en route to the scene came across Hernandez-Quintanilla in the desert and requested backup. Authorities matched the woman to the driver’s license in Marin-Velasquez’s vehicle and arrested him.

He was taken to the Boulder City Police Department, where he told detectives "I have blood on my hands; I’m guilty," according to the arrest report.

Officers took DNA samples from Marin-Velasquez before transferring him to the Clark County Detention Center. He is being held without bail.