Bodden pleads not guilty in husband's death

MINDEN - A 44-year-old woman jailed for more than one year following the discovery of her husband's body in the desert pleaded not guilty Tuesday to his murder.

Appearing with lawyer James E. Wilson Jr. of Carson City, Karen Bodden answered "not guilty" when District Judge asked for her plea to a charge of open murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Wilson said his client invoked her right to a trial within 60 days.

Gamble set jury selection to begin Nov. 29 for the trial which defense and prosecution attorneys agreed would last three weeks.

Bodden was indicted by a Douglas County grand jury Sept. 11.

Investigators believe Robin Bodden, a 50-year-old aircraft mechanic, was shot to death Aug. 15-16, 2006, and his body was dumped in the desert near Johnson Lane where it was found Sept. 10, 2006.

Karen Bodden has been in custody in Douglas County Jail since Sept. 11, 2006, on $1 million cash bail.

Following the murder, authorities believe she had 10 days before a family member reported her husband missing to clean up the crime scene and set up her story that she didn't report his absence because the Boddens were having marital problems.

What investigators discovered, according to court documents, was that Karen Bodden had allegedly embezzled thousands of dollars from her husband's business, General Aviation Services of Nevada, and from personal accounts.

Authorities believe Robin Bodden was shot to death at his airport hangar and the murderer used the mechanic's own tools and supplies to carry out the crime.

The body was wrapped in a blanket, bound in tape and tied with a nylon strap.

The murderer wheeled a hydraulic lift into place, attached the engine lift to the strap and hoisted the body onto Bodden's pickup parked inside the hangar.

According court records, the murderer cleaned the area with paper towels and drove to the desert near Johnson Lane, dumped the body into a shallow grave and covered it with dirt.