Police Find Woman's Body Stuffed in Suitcase in Las Vegas

Police are now investigating the gruesome murder of a woman whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase at an East Valley apartment complex in Las Vegas, according to an article by CNN.

The body was found following a report filed by a woman who told Las Vegas police that she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted at a residence by the suspect later identified as Gary Walker.

When detectives went to the home reported by the woman, they were notified by someone whose identity remains unclear until now, that the 55-year old suspect had allegedly killed another woman at the same residence. Police discovered a gruesome scene and immediately arrested Walker.

"Homicide detectives responded to the residence where a deceased female was found in a suitcase," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released a statement on Thursday.

On Friday, police identified the victim as Morgan Amaya, 22. She suffered a gunshot wound to the head which was likely the cause of death, according to Candace Caterer, a Clark County Coroner's Office specialist.

Walker has been charged with murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and eight counts of sexual assault.

According to an article by Fox News, the Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure ordered Walker held without bail, saying he had multiple felony and misdemeanor convictions in other states.

Amaya's sister-in-law, Nicole Marie said that Amaya had been battling drug addiction and trying to get clean so she could get custody of her 1-year-old daughter, according to Associated Press.

Marie said she and her fiancé had met Walker and that they thought he was a friend who was helping Amaya by giving her a place to stay since she and her husband were separated.

"We just talked to her Tuesday; everything was fine, and I talked to the guy; he seemed like he was cool," Victor Hougesen, Marie's fiancé, told KSNV-TV.

Following the incident, neighbors shared their horror with 8 News Now.

"Who would do something like that?" said Lauretta Kynard who lives near Nellis Boulevard and Bonanza Road, where the 22-year-old victim was discovered Wednesday. 

"Shocked, devastated," she added. "Hardly anything really happens over here."

"It's one thing to be angry and upset, but to take somebody's life?" Kynard reflected. "No, that's not acceptable."

This is definitely not the first time an incident like this has happened in the City of Sin. In September of 2019, police found the remains of a murdered 39-year-old woman inside a 55 gallon drum near Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Valley Parkway. 

In September of 2018, a three-year old child was killed by her own mother. Her body was found wrapped in plastic and stuffed inside a duffel bag inside an apartment near Lake Mead and Hollywood Boulevard.

Back in 2015, a 71-year-old woman was also murdered and placed inside a duffel bag and thrown underground near Nellis Boulevard and Twain Avenue. 

The Clark County Coroner is yet to release Amaya's official cause of death.

Walker is set to appear in court on Monday, February 10, 2020.