Family of suspect in slaying of can collector aided police in arrest

By Ana Ley

Published Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 | 12:21 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 | 4:35 p.m.

A man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a woman behind an east valley bar over the weekend was arrested today based in part on tips from the suspect's family, Metro Police said.

Kathy Shines, 54, was found dead just before 6 a.m. Saturday behind Hammerheads Bar & Grill East at 3310 S. Nellis Blvd., near Desert Inn Road, police said. Shines had been collecting cans from a dumpster when she was attacked, police said.

Police sought a suspect for five days before arresting Jerry Howard, 24, about 4:30 a.m. today at an apartment complex in the 3000 block of Nellis.

Howard was taken to the Clark County Detention Center, where he faces counts of first-degree murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery.

Police received two tips from Howard's family as well as other tips thanks to social media and publicity given to the case, Homicide Lt. Ray Steiber said at a press conference this afternoon.

Steiber said Shines was targeted in the "vicious and brutal attack," and he said the department is confident it has the right person in custody.

He emphasized that Howard's family provided information to authorities.

"They realized the severity of what occurred," Steiber said. "They realized how serious this was."

Just before 6 a.m. Saturday, Metro received a report of a woman who appeared injured behind the bar. Shines was pronounced dead at the scene.

She died of multiple stab wounds, the Clark County Coroner’s Office said.