Former FBI agent convicted in hammer slaying

A retired FBI agent and Vietnam War veteran was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter Tuesday for the slaying of his son's girlfriend in November 2008.

After a two-week trial and a day of deliberation, a Clark County jury of seven men and five women handed down the verdict against Edward Preciado-Nuno.

Prosecutors had sought a murder conviction against the 63-year-old for the death of Kimberly Long, who was in a long-term relationship with Jeffrey Preciado that was marked by domestic violence and alcohol and prescription drug abuse.

Preciado-Nuno, who testified at the trial, said Long had attacked him with a hammer first and he was defending himself when he killed her.

Prosecutors said Preciado-Nuno beat Long to death with a hammer, striking her more than a dozen times in the head. She also had numerous defense wounds, prosecutors said.

The jury saw graphic photos of the crime scene and autopsy photos of Long's head that showed half a dozen wounds made by a hammer to the back of her head.

The jury also saw photos of Preciado-Nuno's bloodied face at the hospital after the violent encounter on Nov. 13, 2008.

Voluntary manslaughter carries a potential sentence of one to 10 years in prison, but the judge also has the option of sentencing Preciado-Nuno to probation.

Preciado-Nuno was immediately handcuffed after the verdict was read. District Judge Donald Mosley ordered the defendant to be held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center pending a sentencing hearing Feb. 23.

As he was being led from the courtroom, Preciado-Nuno told his wife, son and other family members he loved them.

Defense attorney Tom Pitaro said he plans to ask the judge to sentence his client to probation, citing Preciado-Nuno's long years of service to the nation.

Prosecutors declined to comment after the verdict was announced.

Long's biological mother, Beverly Saunders, said she was disappointed by the verdict. Saunders said what happened to Long was "brutal" and she believed the jury should have found Preciado-Nuno guilty of first-degree murder.

But she said she was glad her daughter's killer was handcuffed and led off to jail.

Saunders said she had given Long up for adoption as an infant, but the two had reconnected in 1998 and considered each other best friends.

Saunders last spoke to Long on Nov. 12, 2008 and encouraged her to leave Preciado after a violent confrontation days before her death.

Preciado-Nuno, a 25-year veteran FBI agent and former Marine, came to Las Vegas in 2008 to try to settle problems between Long and Preciado, his defense attorneys said.

In the weeks leading up to Long's death, her five-year relationship with Preciado had crumbled.

Authorities contend Preciado and his father wanted to evict Long from the couple's home and gain custody of their son in the wake of a fight several days before the slaying. Police were called to the house during that incident but made no arrests.

Several days after the fight, Preciado went to a police station to make a report against Long.

On the morning of the incident, while Preciado was staying at a hotel, a confrontation occurred between Preciado-Nuno and Long, sparking the fatal fight.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.