Wilbur Martinez-Guzman

The 2019 Nevada killing spree was a series of murders in which an assailant broke into three homes in western Nevada, murdered the elderly inhabitants, and made off with valuables. Reports of the crimes terrified area residents for several days until a police manhunt identified and apprehended a suspect, Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman, an illegal immigrant. The sheriff's report states that Martinez-Guzman later confessed. He is an illegal immigrant, however his immigration status was not taken into consideration for the accusations levied and penalty sought.

A region-wide manhunt began after Connie Koontz was found dead in her Gardnerville home on January 10, 2019. Gerald and Sharon David were found dead in their home in Reno on January 16.Sophia Renken was found shot to death in her home in Gardnerville on January 13.

Connie Koontz had jewelry stolen during the incident.She was 56.

Sophia Renken (74) was found dead inside her home, about one mile from Koontz's house, on January 13.

81-year-old Gerald David and 80-year-old Sharon David were found dead in their south Reno home on January 16, 2019.

The manhunt continued for nine days.Information obtained through tracking an Apple watch which had been stolen from Koontz led to a woman who had attempted to connect a digital account to the watch; her son Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman is now under arrest and accused of committing the series of murders.She was living in Carson City with Martinez-Guzman.  Douglas County, Washoe County and Carson City sheriffs' offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigations started surveillance of Martinez-Guzman and his mother.The following day, jewelry belonging to Koontz and a ring belonging to Jerry David were found at a Carson City pawn shop.  

Authorities had Wilber Ernesto Martinez-Guzman under surveillance as they investigated the string of murder-robberies, and took him into custody as he approached a suburban gun store, fearing that he intended to purchase weapons.He was arrested in Carson City, Nevada on January 19, 2019 on suspicion of having committed the murders. The initial charges were for possession of stolen property, two counts of burglary, and obtaining money under false pretenses.

Martinez-Guzman, then 19 years old, is thought to have been living in Carson City for about a year. He is a citizen of El Salvador.

Following the killings, Martinez-Guzman was detained on an immigration hold. According to immigration officials, Martinez-Guzman "was likely in the United States illegally and was detainable."according to a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “If he’s released from jail, law enforcement will contact us, and we will pick him up and we will start the proceedings for his deportation.”

Martinez-Guzman is expected to be tried in each of the two counties where the killings took place, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks and Douglas County District Attorney Mark Jackson each plan to lead the prosecution team in their respective counties.

Martinez-Guzman appeared in court on January 23, 2019, where he was charged with possession of stolen property, burglary, and obtaining money under false pretenses.

In February 2019, Martinez-Guzman waived his right to a preliminary hearing and a judge approved his transfer to Washoe County where he is held without bail to face prosecution for four murders.Prosecution in Carson City for 26 burglary and possession charges was placed on hold.

The suspect's trial is scheduled for April 2020.Prosecutors will seek a death penalty for the suspect.

At a hearing before a Grand Jury in March, 2019, a detective stated that Guzman had told police that he committed robbed and killed his victims because he needed money to buy meth.

President Donald Trump tweeted, "Four people in Nevada viciously robbed and killed by an illegal immigrant who should not have been in our Country." Three close family members of Sharon and Gerald David were invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the 2019 State of the Union Address.