Sheriffs confident man arrested in Carson City responsible for slayings in Reno, Gardnerville
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Sun, 01/20/2019 - 2:50pm
A man residing in Carson City was arrested in connection with murders in Gardnerville and Washoe County, according to sheriffs from Reno, Douglas County and Carson City.
On Saturday, Jan. 19, Wilbur Ernesti Martinez Guzman, 19, who resides in Carson City, was arrested in connection with the murders in Douglas County and Washoe County.
According to Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, law enforcement agencies are confident there is enough evidence to link Guzman to all four homicides.
“We feel strongly we have the man responsible for this,” said Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley, regarding the homicides in the Gardnerville area.
See the video here.
“This was a collaborative effort between all agencies of Northern Nevada,” said Coverley. “I also want to speak to the community here in Northern Nevada. It’s a special place. Douglas County is a special place. And these acts are not common, and we’re thankful for that.”
Between Jan. 10 through Jan. 19 agencies across Northern Nevada continued to follow up on tips from the public, said Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong.
“By Friday, those leads had allowed our agencies to focus on several specific locations in Carson City,” said Furlong.
CCSO put a 24-hour surveillance team on Guzman, and by 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning, they had accomplished identifying Guzman at a Woodside Drive residence in Carson City.
Immigration officers confirmed he was likely in the United States illegally, said Furlong.
Guzman was not known to the Carson City Sheriff’s Office previously, according to law enforcement. Neither a motive nor a connection between the suspect and victims has been released yet.
The arrest teams consisted of Carson City Special Enforcement Team and immigration officers in addition to other agencies.
Guzman is currently in custody at the Carson City Jail.
He has been charged with multiple felony counts including possession of stolen property and burglary. In the coming days, homicide charges will likely be forthcoming.
He is being held on an Immigration hold which is non-bailable.
The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office said they will be seeking arrest warrants for the murders in the coming days as the investigation continues.
Two women were murdered in the span of four days only a mile apart earlier this month in Douglas County within the Gardnerville Ranchos area.
The first victim was 56-year-old Connie Koontz, killed on Jan. 10, and the second victim was Sophia Renken, age 74, killed on Jan. 13, both were killed in the nighttime hours.
A South Reno couple, 81-year-old Gerald David, a former Reno Rodeo President, and his wife, 80-year-old Sharon David, were found dead in their home Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. Both had been shot to death.
- burglary
- Carson City
- Carson City Fire Department
- carson
- Carson City fire
- carson city sheriff
- City
- community
- Community,
- county
- Death
- Douglas
- Douglas County
- felony
- fire
- FRIDAY
- home
- Hours
- immigration
- Morning
- Nevada
- News
- Northern Nevada
- officers
- possession of stolen property
- President
- public
- Reno Rodeo
- rodeo
- saturday
- south
- stolen property
- United States
- video
- Washoe
- Wednesday
- women
- Gardnerville
- Kenny Furlong
- law enforcement
- reno
- sheriff
