Edward Edgerton, accused of beating his girlfriend with a belt and killing her, awaits arraignment before Judge Nancy Becker in Clark County District Court on Monday, June 2, 2014.
Monday, June 2, 2014 | 10:54 a.m.
A Las Vegas man accused of fatally beating his girlfriend after spanking her with a belt as punishment pleaded not guilty today to a count of murder.
Edward Edgerton was arrested March 15 after police found his girlfriend, Tyanna Reynolds, unconscious inside their apartment in the 3000 block of Nellis Boulevard.
At his arraignment this morning, Reynolds waived his right to a speedy trial to give his attorneys more time to gather evidence in his defense. Senior Clark County District Court Judge Nancy Becker scheduled a trial for April 20.
According to a Metro Police report, Edgerton and his girlfriend began fighting about midnight after Edgerton intercepted a phone call from Reynolds’ former boyfriend. Edgerton told police he pinned Reynolds to the bed and forced her to list the times she had recently met with her ex.
He told Reynolds to stand in a corner and read aloud what she had written, spanking her exposed buttocks 15 to 20 times with a belt, the report said.
For the couple, that was acceptable punishment when one of them “messed up,” Edgerton told police.
Later in the day, Edgerton found more missed calls from Reynolds’ former boyfriend, reigniting the argument, the report said.
During an ensuing fight, Reynolds told Edgerton she could not breathe and passed out after going to take a shower, Edgerton reportedly told police. He called 911, and Reynolds died after being taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Edgerton remains behind bars at the Clark County Detention Center without bail.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy