Attorney hints at insanity defense for suspect in double-homicide

By Jackie Valley

Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 | 9:54 a.m.

Defense attorneys requested more time to review the case of David Settle, the man accused of bludgeoning to death two people at a group home, before a preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled.

Settle, 68, waived his right to a preliminary hearing within 15 days during his appearance Thursday morning in Las Vegas Justice Court. Justice of the Peace Cynthia Cruz scheduled a status check Jan. 17, giving public defenders two more weeks to collect evidence.

Public defender Scott Coffee said he had not seen all of the evidence related to the case, but from what he knows, he might request a medical examination of Settle.

"The facts of the case make it obvious there may be some mental-health issues," Coffee said after the brief hearing.

Settle has been charged with two counts of murder with use of a deadly weapon, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday. The counts relate to the deaths of Henry Namett, 82, and Elenita Ablao, 59, who were found dead Sunday in the group home.

Officers arrived to the residence, 3709 W. Washington Ave., to find Settle wearing only a diaper in a room with one of the victims.

Settle told police he used a hammer to kill Namett, a resident, and Ablao, a caretaker, according to the arrest report. He then walked to nearby convenience stores to buy a bottle of wine and cigars before returning to the home, where he tried unsuccessfully to kill himself.

Settle offered police no explanation why he killed the resident and caretaker, but said he liked both people, the arrest report states.

Police transported Settle to the Clark County Detention Center, where he remains without bond.