President Trump tweets about Reno, Gardnerville homicides; murder charges forthcoming
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 01/21/2019 - 6:15pm
A murder investigation involving slayings in Reno and Gardnerville in which a 19-year-old man was arrested Saturday in Carson City in connection to the killings has caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump who turned to Twitter on Monday to push for a wall he wants built along the United States and Mexico border.
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.
Sheriffs in Washoe, Douglas and Carson City believe Guzman, who was taken into custody Saturday, is the suspect for the slayings this month of two Gardnervile women and an elderly Reno couple.
The president Tweeted on Monday: "Four people in Nevada viciously robbed and killed by an illegal immigrant who should not have been in our Country. 26 people killed on the Border in a drug and gang related fight. Two large Caravans from Honduras broke into Mexico and are headed our way. We need a powerful Wall!"
Guzman is currently in custody at the Carson City Jail. He was taken into Saturday afternoon at a South Carson Street parking lot. A residence on Woodside Drive was searched.
Guzman has been charged with multiple felony counts including possession of stolen property and burglary. In the coming days, homicide charges will likely be forthcoming, according to Douglas and Washoe authorities.
He is being held on an Immigration hold which is non-bailable. Guzman has family in the area.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong told the Reno Gazette-Journal that Guzman will turn 20 next week, has been cooperative with law enforcement, was on suicide watch and is under constant surveillance and has met with a behavioral psychologist since the arrest.
Guzman is not known by law enforcement prior to this investigation, but in early 2018 was pulled over for a minor traffic violation.
When he was first considered a suspect, law enforcement contacted immigration services and were told he may be in the country illegally. Authorities said they believe he has been in the area for about a year, but have not released more information on where he may have lived previously or where he may have been born, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Authorities in both Washoe and Douglas County say 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.
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