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Henderson man faces charges in Arizona slaying

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- A Henderson man is facing murder charges in the stabbing death of a woman whose body was found Tuesday in a burning car in northwest Arizona.

Mohave County sheriff's office spokeswoman Trish Carter said 42-year-old John David Marshall appeared to be armed as he fled a smoking passenger vehicle in Golden Valley near Arizona Route 68 and Egar Road just before 2 p.m.

"An adult male exited the front driver's door and approached the fire personnel holding a knife," a probable cause statement filed in Kingman Justice Court said.

Carter said an hourlong air and ground search led to the arrest of Marshall, who was taken into custody at a diner in the vicinity.

A friend of the woman had called 911 about 11 a.m. Tuesday after receiving a call from Marshall. During the call to the friend, Marshall said he had killed the woman and was driving to Boulder City to kill himself.

Golden Valley Fire Chief Thomas O'Donohue said the woman's body tumbled out of the vehicle when firefighters opened a door.

Henderson police described the victim as Marshall's ex-girlfriend. Her name was withheld pending notification of her family.

An autopsy is pending.

Carter said Henderson police contacted the Mohave County sheriff's office earlier Tuesday, asking for help locating Marshall after he threatened suicide during a telephone call with law enforcement authorities.

Henderson police said officers called Marshall several times. He refused to give them his location.

A cellphone signal search led Henderson authorities to think Marshall had traveled to northwest Arizona.

He is being held in the Mohave County Jail without bail. He faces murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the slaying.

Blood and soot were found on Marshall's clothing, and he had blood on his fingertips, according to authorities.

Kingman Justice of the Peace Rick Lambert ordered that Marshall be held on $500,000 bond.

He scheduled a Feb. 24 preliminary hearing and appointed indigent defense counsel for Marshall, but extradition proceedings are expected to have Marshall returned to Nevada to face prosecution in Clark County.

The woman's death is the first slaying in Henderson this year.

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