Police: Links sought between 4 Nevada killings, man in US illegally
Prosecutors were preparing Wednesday to charge a man from El Salvador who was living in the U.S. illegally with killing four people in two different Nevada cities, while investigators looked for possible links between the victims and suspect.
Wilbur Martinez-Guzman will formally hear the first of what likely will be more charges against him in a court hearing in Carson City on Thursday.
“They’re continuing to look at, ‘How were these cases connected?’” Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said of the separate shootings carried out in a six-day span.
Martinez-Guzman, who was 19 when he was arrested by police on Saturday night and held on immigration charges, has been named the only suspect in four murders.
Read more: What we know about Wilbur Martinez-Guzman, held in connection with four Nevada homicides
Two women were found dead in their homes days apart in the tight-knit community of Gardnerville Ranchos, and the bodies of a couple were discovered in their Reno house about an hour’s drive north.
The case became part of the immigration debate after President Donald Trump cited it as evidence of the need for his proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall, which is at the heart of a partial government shutdown.
Federal immigration authorities told Furlong that Martinez-Guzman was from El Salvador and in the country illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not have more details on how he got into the U.S.
The afternoon hearing is expected to only address burglary, possession of stolen property and obtaining money under false pretenses charges.
Furlong said a public defender will be named for Martinez-Guzman at the hearing. He also said he believed Martinez-Guzman has already met with an attorney.
The Washoe and Douglas County district attorneys have murder charges in the deaths of Connie Koontz, Sophia Renken and Jerry and Sherri David expected this week.
Koontz, 56, was found dead inside her home in Gardnerville Ranchos on Jan. 10. On Jan. 13, Sophia Renken, 74, was found dead in her home about a mile away.
Jerry David, 81, and his wife Sherri, 80, were found in their South Reno home on La Guardia Lane on Jan. 16.
More: Slain Reno couple were former Reno Rodeo president, wife
Details on hearing
The hearing, where Martinez-Guzman will appear in person and not via a live stream, is expected to take about 30 minutes.
The courtroom is open to the public and will seat 55-60 people.
It will be the first court appearance for Martinez-Guzman, who was arrested Jan. 19 in a parking lot at the Carson Mall.
Police said he was taken into custody after he was under surveillance by police after a tip connected him to the murders.
Little is known about Martinez-Guzman, who is undocumented. Police said they believe he has been in Northern Nevada for about a year.
He was not on the radar of police and has family who live in the area.
He turns 20 sometime this month, according to police.
Furlong said on Wednesday that his office has been contacted by a member of the consulate of El Salvador. He said his office may be setting up a meeting between a member of the consulate and Martinez-Guzman.
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Police: Links sought between 4 Nevada killings, man in US illegally
