An anonymous tip of a shooting Saturday in which the murder victim was buried in the desert, did not pan out, a Carson City Sheriff's official said Thursday.
Lt. Bob White said officers received information Wednesday that a shooting took place on Saturday and the killer had buried the body in the Butterfield Country at the end of Snyder Avenue.
After following several leads throughout the day and into Thursday morning, they were unable to substantiate that there was a shooting or a victim, he said.
Investigators interviewed several subjects who attended a party on Airport Road on Saturday, none of whom could corroborate the tipster's story. The homeowner also allowed investigators to search her garage where the alleged shooting took place, but a spot of suspected blood turned out to be animal blood, said White.
He said a search of an area by cadaver dogs in Butterfield Country did not turn up anything.
And a search of the truck allegedly used to transport the victim, also proved fruitless.
"At this point, we don't have leads, however if anyone has any information concerning suspicious activity in and around the Butterfield area, don't hesitate to call," White said.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at 887-2020 ext. 1404.
Jurors deliberate in rape case
A Carson City jury began deliberations Thursday on the fate of accused rapist Juan Carlos Amador.
Amador, 40, is charged with one count of felony sexual assault. The jury was seated on Tuesday.
According to the arrest report, the victim was working on a computer in Amador's garage on July 16 when he came in and locked the door behind him.
He then allegedly forced himself on the 20-year-old victim, who tried to fight him off.
A short time later, the girl's mother arrived and began pounding on the door and window and Amador allegedly stopped, telling the victim, "We didn't do anything."
The mother told police she could see Amador getting off her daughter through a crack in the curtains.
When Amador opened the door, the girl ran to her mother and told her what happened and Amador allegedly confessed, saying the sex was consensual, according to the police report.
He is being held on $50,000 bail. Jurors began deliberating about 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Assistant Carson City District Attorney Gerald Gardner is prosecuting the case.
Operation Scarecrow nets two sex offenders
Two sex offenders were arrested during "Operation Scarecrow" visits on Halloween.
According to Rich Tiran, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety Parole and Probation Division, Justin Richardson, 32, of Carson City and Gary Troth, 51, of Mound House, are both tier level 2 sex offenders and were in violation of their probation with the use of alcohol or drugs and failing to check in with their probation officers.
"Operations Scarecrow is an opportunity for Parole and Probation officers to monitor the compliance of tier level 2 and tier level 3 sex offenders on Halloween night. The sex offenders within these tier levels that have a 'no contact with children' clause on their supervision agreements and will receive a home contact visit on Halloween to ensure they are not giving out candy or having any contact with children," said Tiran.
Sex offenders who met these requirements were informed prior to the holiday to have their porch lights turned off and not to answer their door, he said.
In the Carson City, Fallon, Fernley areas approximately 39 offenders were visited.
One offender was arrested in Reno. The offender was not on Parole or Probation supervision, but is being supervised as a lifetime offender.
Service set for man who died in jail hanging
A memorial service for Jonathan Roe will be from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday. For information on the location, e-mail his mother, Janet Marrone, at jlmarr69@yahoo.com
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.