Police: Woman beaten to death by stranger

A Lockwood woman out for a walk just blocks from her home Sunday night was beaten to death when she refused to give a stranger a cigarette, according to police.

Storey County Assistant Sheriff Gerald Antinoro said Monday that Eileen Pruitt, 47, and her alleged killer Ryan Bonnett, 22, happened upon one another just before 9 p.m. in front of the Rainbow Bend Community Center in the Lockwood neighborhood where they both lived.

Bonnett had been drinking, said Antinoro. Pruitt was merely walking her dog.

Bonnett asked her for a cigarette, Antinoro said.

"Apparently her refusal did not sit well with him, so he commenced to beating her," he said. "Then he punched her and knocked her down and started kicking her."

Antinoro would not divulge if passersby intervened, or who called police, but witnesses were able to give a description of Bonnett, who was arrested a few blocks away on the street.

Pruitt, whose lived in the subdivision in north Storey County near Sparks since at least 2003, was taken from the scene by ambulance. She underwent emergency surgery at Renown Regional Medical Center, but died of her injuries at 3:30 a.m. Monday.

While handcuffed and sitting a patrol car, Bonnett slammed his head against the window several times, said Antinoro. He also appeared to have injuries on him from an earlier unknown incident.

Bonnett is being held without bail on suspicion of felony open murder.

Assistant Storey County District Attorney Laura Grant said she expects to file a criminal complaint after she receives the police report.

Bonnett will make his first appearance in court later this week.