LVPD investigates fifth ‘suspicious’ death this year
Las Vegas Police are investigating the death of a 33-year-old man after his body was found in the Gallinas River Saturday evening. Chief of Police David Bibb confirmed the death of Joseph Untalan in an email to the Optic Monday.
According to a press release, LVPD detectives responded to an area near the Gallinas Riverwalk Saturday evening around 7:20 after someone reported finding a body in the river.
Police said that, following an initial investigation and search of the area, detectives did not find signs of a struggle; however, according to the press release, police are “treating Untalan’s death as suspicious.”
The Office of the Medical Investigator is now conducting an autopsy and a toxicology screening.
Untalan’s death comes just four weeks after the body of William “Skip” Smith Jr. was found in an alleyway between 5th Street and 6th Street on Aug. 16. Police still have not said how Smith died, but have also called his death suspicious.
Chief Bibb told the Optic the Las Vegas Police Department, along with the Las Vegas Public Works Department and Las Vegas Utilities Department, have searched for evidence in two alleyways between 3rd Street and 4th Street, and between 5th Street and 6th Street. Bibb said the search was difficult because the alleyways were overgrown with trees, shrubs and weeds. According to an Aug. 30 press release, the alleyways were cleared of the overgrown plants to aid the investigation effort.
Bibb said the search for details into Smith’s death is an ongoing investigation and that officers and staff are “frustrated by near stagnation of the case.”
Police are also awaiting a final report from OMI in Smith’s death.
These recent deaths follow three homicide investigations. No arrests have been made in the June 15 shooting death of Cruz Gallegos, or the July 22 shooting death of Leroy Lucero.
Police have not named any suspects or persons of interest either.
Marcos R. Ruiz, 40, has been charged in the Aug. 3 shooting death of Marcos “Mark” Carrillo, but police will not say if Ruiz is linked to other deaths.
LVPD asks that anyone with information on any of these recent deaths contact LVPD at 505-425-7504.
