Body found in Carson River believed to be Nevada insurance examiner; four in custody

UPDATE: The body of a man believed to be an insurance examiner for Nevada who was reported missing Thursday and whose apartment was ransacked, was found Saturday morning in the Carson River. It was wrapped in a blanket and bound in duct tape, authorities said. An autopsy has been finished.

Four now face murder charges after two of the suspects charges were upgraded. They are Michael Paul Evans, 23, who was found in Carson City early Saturday morning. Three others, two men and one woman, were arrested in Las Vegas and have been cooperating with authorities, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said. They are Anthony Elliott, 20; Makyla L. Blackmore, 20 and Raul Garcia, 22. Residential robbery is believed to be the motive, Furlong told KOLO.

Evans was booked into the Carson City Jail and faces charges of murder, murder of an older person, battery with a deadly weapon causing substantial bodily harm and burglary. Bail is $550,000.

According to Sheriff Furlong, during the early morning hours on Saturday, the Carson City Special Enforcement Team coordinated with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and arrested the three, who are expected to be returned to Carson City within the week.

Here is the news release from Sheriff Furlong:

Body located, arrests made
At approximately 8:36 a.m. on April 4th, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office responded to a “welfare check” at the 700 Block of Silver Oak Drive. The reporting persons at the scene informed Deputies that Mr. William McCune, employed by the state, born September 14, 1950, 5 foot 9 inches tall, bald and blue eyes, had not reported for work and had missed a scheduled work related flight early that morning. Although no one was located at the apartment residence, the initial Deputy on scene requested the assistance of Detectives based on the obvious appearance of a severe struggle inside the apartment.

At 8:10 a.m. this morning, Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams located a wrapped body in the Carson River waters just South of Carson River Road. The identification of the body is pending an autopsy.

Based upon information gathered by detectives, an operation was initiated during the evening of April 5th. Carson City Special Enforcement officers were dispatched to Las Vegas where three persons of interest had been reported. The team arrived in Vegas in the early morning hours, as Detectives in Carson City executed search warrants and narrowed their search of other persons of interest remaining in the local area.

During the early morning hours of April 6th, Michael Paul Evans, 12/17/89, was located and arrested in Carson City. He was booked into the jail on the charges of Murder ($250,000), Battery with a Deadly Weapon Causing Substantial Bodily Harm ($25,000), Burglary ($25,000), and Murder of an Older Person ($250,000).

During the early morning hours, the Carson City Special Enforcement Team coordinated their activities with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Shortly after 10:00 a.m., three other suspects were taken into custody on the Las Vegas Strip. Arrested were: Makyla L. Blackmore, 2/247/93, Burglary ($15,000); Raul Garcia, 10/18/90, Burglary ($15,000); and Anthony Elliot, 5/1/92, Murder (no bail). All three were arrested on warrants issued out of Carson City courts in connection with the disappearance of Mr. McCune. All three persons are expected to be returned to Carson City within the week.

The body that was recovered in the river was transported to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office. No date has been set for the autopsy.

Forensic Specialists with the Sheriff’s Office continue to process the residence/scene of Mr. McCune for evidence. The collections process is expected to be completed early next week.

Although four persons have been arrested, the investigation remains open as Detectives continue to work with the Carson City District Attorney’s Office. Anyone with any information regarding this homicide is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 887-2500.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong would like to thank all of those who assisted in this investigation by providing valuable information that allowed Detectives to take rapid assertive steps in this matter that resulted in the arrests of all of the suspects.

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Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong confirms that a body was found Saturday morning near the area of the Carson River and that four people are in custody, one in Carson City and three in Las Vegas.

"We have a body and we have suspects," said Sheriff Furlong. The body has not yet been identified as the missing state insurance examiner William McCune, 62. Furlong said that the circumstances of identifying the body at this time are complicated and that details will be explained further in a forthcoming news release.

Furlong said the body was found at 8:10 a.m. The body was recovered from the scene at 10:42 a.m., according police dispatch via scanner.

This is a developing story. Please check back as information becomes available.