Autopsy finds airplane mechanic was murdered

GARDNERVILLE - A Douglas County airplane mechanic found dead in the Pine Nut Mountains in September was murdered, a Douglas County official said Wednesday.

Robin Bodden, 50, died from four gunshot wounds to the head, according to autopsy results performed by the Washoe County Coroner's Office released Wednesday.

Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Tom Mezzetta said the results of the autopsy were not released until the results of a toxicology test came back. The toxicology results recently revealed Bodden did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death.

Bodden was found Sept.. 10 one-quarter-mile south of Sunrise Pass Road in rural Douglas County.

He was reported missing on Aug. 26 after a family member learned from relatives that he had not been heard from in 10 days.

No one has been charged in connection with his disappearance and death.

During their investigation of Bodden's disappearance, deputies discovered irregularities in his financial records.

His widow, Karen, was jailed in September on charges that she embezzled thousands of dollars from his business.

She pleaded not guilty and a trial is set for Feb. 21. She is being held in Douglas County Jail on $115,000 bail with a hold from a 2004 conviction for embezzling $44,000 when she was employed by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

Karen Bodden told investigators she didn't report her husband missing because they were having marital problems and he had disappeared before. She claimed he left in a twin-engine plane with a man named "Ramos."

Bodden's siblings say he had a well-known fear of flying in small planes despite the fact he was an airplane mechanic. And they said he would never leave without contacting one of them.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate Bodden's death. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Ron Elges at 782-9905.