Nevada Man Accused Of Brutal Killing Spree, Charged With 'Open Murder' In 5 Deaths
Police in Nevada have charged the man believed to have killed five people during a brutal murder spree on Monday with "open murder."
Jeremiah Diaz Bean, 25, of Fernley, Nev. was arrested on Monday for burglary in apparent connection to the killings and now in addition to burglary and open murder, he faces charges of arson, robbery, grand larceny and ex-felon in possession of a firearm charges, authorities announced Wednesday.
According to reports, Bean is alleged to have begun his killing spree in the early hours of Monday morning when he murdered Robert Pape, 84, and wife Dorothy Pape, 84, in their home at 975 Jessica Lane in Fernley. Police say he then stole the Papes' car and drove approximately 15 miles west toward Reno when the car broke down and Bean became stranded near the exit for Mustang in Washoe County.
Soon thereafter, authorities say they received a 911 call from a woman who happened upon Eliazar Graham, 52, a newspaper delivery man from Sparks, who became the third victim of Bean's murderous rampage. Graham was found dead on the side of the interstate near where the Papes' car had broken down,
Bean then allegedly returned to Fernley in what is believed to be Graham's car, where he proceeded to kill Angie Duff, 67, and Lester Lieber, 69, in Duff's home on Tamsen Way, which is located about a half block away from the Pape residence. The car he allegedly returned to Fernley in was found burned in the Papes' garage.
Authorities apprehended Bean later Monday afternoon when they found him hiding in the garage of a home owned by the Papes' neighbors. He was arrested for burglary after police found him in possession of unspecified belongings taken from the Pape residence.
Although the cause of death has not yet been confirmed, authorites say that all five victims suffered gunshot wounds.
Police believe Bean acted alone in committing the five murders that rocked residents living in the small community surrounding Fernley. As of Wednesday afternoon, officials had no evidence of a motive for Bean's crimes and had not found any connections linking Bean's victims to each other.
If found guilty of the open murder charge, Bean may face related charges running the gamut from manslaughter to first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the Lyon County Jail.
"I think there should probably be a sense of relief that we believe we have the person responsible for this in custody," Lyon County Sheriff Allen Veil said during a press conference held Wednesday afternoon. "However, I think there's probably going to be a sense of shock and disbelief that something like this would happen here."
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