Grandson back in Nevada to face murder charge

YERINGTON - A California man suspected of killing his grandmother in Silver Springs was returned to Nevada on Tuesday night to face murder and kidnapping charges.

James Masterson, 22, was brought from the Sacramento County Jail by Lyon County Sheriff's Lt. Brian Veil and arrived in Yerington about

7:30 p.m.

Masterson has been in custody in Sacramento since July 25 after he was stopped on a traffic violation there and allegedly found to be driving his grandmother's car and in possession of her jewelry and credit cards. He also was found to be in possession of heroin, police reports indicate.

Peggy Herlacher, 73, was reported missing on July 24 by her children. When officers arrived at Herlacher's home they found her jewelry box empty and Masterson missing. There also were reports of what looked like drag marks in the dirt driveway, but by the time officers arrived on scene rain and wind had washed them away, said Lyon County Sheriff Alan Veil.

Masterson, of Riverbank, Calif., had moved into his paternal grandmother's Silver Springs home on July 17.

When Masterson was arrested in Sacramento he declined to speak with investigators, but told family he did not know his grandmother's whereabouts, said Herlacher's daughter Lethea Love of Fernley.

On Aug. 31 Herlacher's body was found buried in Masterson's maternal grandfather's backyard in Riverbank. Investigators said Herlacher's hands were bound and she was wrapped in a throw blanket she'd use to cover her legs as she watched television at home.

An autopsy performed at the Stanislaus County Coroner's Office in California found that Herlacher had been strangled to death.

A criminal complaint filed by Lyon County District Attorney Bob Auer charges Masterson with felony murder and an alternate charge of first degree murder with an elderly enhancement, kidnapping, robbery, obtaining a credit card without the permission of the cardholder, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, grand larceny of jewelry and cigarettes and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

According to the criminal complaint, Masterson allegedly strangled his grandmother either before or after he put her into the trunk of her car at her Silver Springs home and drove her to California where he allegedly buried her.

The complaint also alleges that Masterson first used his grandmother's credit card to put gas into her vehicle in Silver Springs on July 22, the last time friends or family had any contact with her. Masterson then allegedly purchased $100 in Starbucks gift cards from the Fernley Starbucks and returned the cards to California Starbucks stores for cash, according to investigators.

He is expected to be arraigned Thursday.