Woman arrested on murder charge after false carjacking claim, police say

A woman was arrested on a murder charge Tuesday after Henderson police said she fabricated a story about an attempted carjacking that left a man dead.

Police had reported on Tuesday that the man was killed after an attempted carjacking, and that the killer ran from the scene. Las Vegas police deployed a helicopter to help search for him. But on Wednesday, Henderson police said the initial description of the killing had been fabricated.

Danika Cain, 33, was arrested after police said she falsely reported that a stranger had tried to steal a vehicle that she was in, then hit the vehicle’s owner with the car and ran away.

The owner, Kent Reed, 44, died at the scene, according to the Clark County coroner’s office. His death was ruled a homicide. Cain could be seen sobbing at the scene as she spoke to police Tuesday evening.

Detectives later determined that Cain’s initial story was inaccurate, police said Wednesday. Investigators believe she and Reed had gotten into an argument, which they described as a “domestic related,” while in the car. When Reed got out of the car, police said Cain then hit him with the vehicle, killing him.

On Tuesday evening, a man who identified himself as Reed’s brother stood across the street from the scene. He said that Reed had been visiting from Louisiana. The coroner’s office said Reed was a Las Vegas resident.

Jail records show that Cain was booked into the Henderson Detention Center late Tuesday. She is being held without bail on one count of murder.

Anyone with information on the case may contact the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4911 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

Contact Alexis Ford at aford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexisdford on Twitter.