Carson City caretaker pleads guilty of first degree murder in March death of toddler
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 10:25am
Caretaker Eric Anthony Buhl pled guilty Tuesday in Carson City District Court of first degree murder in the death of 2-year-old Coanuyana Hernandez. Sentencing will be on Jan. 17, 2018.
Earlier this month Buhl waived his preliminary hearing in Carson City Justice Court with the expectation at the time of his arraignment that he would enter a guilty plea to the charge of first degree murder.
Buhl was in front Judge Wilson, Department II of First Judicial District Court. He faces the following possible sentences: Life in prison without the possibility of parole, life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 20 years has been served or for a definite term of 50 years with eligibility for parole beginning after a minimum of 20 years has been served.
The preliminary hearing waiver at the time essentially took the death penalty possibility off the table, said Carson City Assistant District Attorney Kristin Luis, who has prosecuted the case along with Deputy District Attorney Tyson League. Sentencing has been set for a full day, said Luis.
On March 17, Carson City sheriff's deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive toddler on the 100 block of Manzanita Terrace in North Carson City.
When emergency personnel arrived on scene, they found Buhl administering CPR on the victim, two-year-old Coanuyana Hernandez, who was taken to a local hospital and died. During the investigation, deputies found a live pipe bomb inside Buhl's bedroom.
In May the Carson City District Attorney’s Office filed an “Amended Criminal Complaint” against Buhl, charging Count I, Open Murder (“A” Felony); Count II, Child Abuse Causing Substantial Bodily Harm (“B” Felony); Count III, Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device in or Near Certain Public or Private Places (“D” Felony); and, Count IV, Child Endangerment (Gross Misdemeanor).
The amended criminal complaint was filed after the results of the autopsy were completed and the medical examiner had determined the cause of Coahuyana Hernandez’s death was homicide.
