Dayton man charged with first-degree murder in wife's death

A criminal complaint was filed Monday against a Dayton man accused of killing his estranged wife Thursday night.

Christopher Lawrence Deyerle, 25, was charged with first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in Dayton Justice Court.

He is being held without bail in the Lyon County Jail.

Lyon County Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Page said that after Deyerle spent the weekend on suicide watch, he was cleared and allowed into the general population Monday.

According to investigators, Deyerle spent about two hours at the home of his in-laws on Boulder Circle prior to the 9 p.m. shooting.

The couple were to discuss divorce when he allegedly shot Heather Deyerle, 24, in the head and pelvis before fleeing on foot. She died three hours later at a Reno hospital.

Following a 15-hour search by law enforcement,

Deyerle was spotted by a homeowner Friday about 3 p.m. He was limping on River Road, three miles from the scene of the shooting.

According to Lt. John Arndell, Deyerle indicated he intended to kill himself, but ran out of bullets after firing at least six rounds at his wife.

Lyon County District Attorney Leon Aberasturi said it's unclear if he will seek the death penalty.

"Until all the reports are in, I can't make a determination," he said.

Under Nevada law, in order to seek the death penalty, a prosecutor must find the facts of the case meet at least one of 14 criteria.

"If you don't have the aggravators, you can't seek the death penalty," Aberasturi said.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.