Man charged in death after body found dumped
A 61-year-old man was charged with murder Friday after police said he killed a man, let him decompose for a week in his home, and then dumped the body in a vacant lot.
Las Vegas police said Leonard Joseph St. Peters told detectives he shot and killed Rene Garcia about a week ago after an argument in his apartment at 246 Philadelphia Ave., near the Stratosphere.
According to his arrest report, St. Peters told police he covered Garcia's body in dirty clothes to cover the smell. When the smell became too strong after three days, St. Peters wrapped the body in plastic and taped it shut. He then rolled the body into a bedroom and left it there for three more days.
About 10 p.m. Wednesday, St. Peters said, the smell became unbearable. He told police he placed Garcia's body in a shopping cart he found in the alley and dumped him in a hole in a nearby vacant lot.
The body was discovered by police after an anonymous 911 call about 7 a.m. Thursday.
Police dogs were able to trace the smell to St. Peters' apartment door, according to the report. A trail of fluid from the decomposing body could be seen from the door to the alley.
During an interview with detectives, St. Peters confessed to killing Garcia, but said he shot him in self-defense. He also said he disassembled his gun and tossed the pieces in several different trash bins.
Police said Friday the killing was probably drug-related.
St. Peters has previous convictions in California for possession of a controlled substance and in Nevada for attempted burglary.
He was booked at the county jail Thursday on murder charges and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. On Friday, he also was charged with destroying evidence.
Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.
