LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — New surveillance video shows a masked person spray painting graffiti on an elderly woman’s home near Craig and Walnut before pouring a liquid outside the home. The word “warning” was later discovered on the house in November. An arrest report indicates the “unknown liquid to be possible gasoline due to its distinct smell.” The person seen on video did not start a fire.
January incident escalates to arson
In January, someone poured liquid in the same area of the home and then ignited it. The elderly woman is later seen in video trying to put out the flames. She was not hurt.
Suspect Russell McLaren appeared in court this week. The daughter of the elderly woman also appeared via video conference.
“So my nerves, I kind of got emotional. And it took everything I had not to come off mute and just start saying stuff,” said Melonie Keeran-Bolen.
When asked what she would say to McLaren if she could talk to him, Keeran-Bolen said, “That he’s worthless. And that I hope he rots in prison. I have nothing nice to say to him.”
Victim impact statement prepared
Keeran-Bolen says she’s already written a victim’s impact statement.
“In the letter I asked, what would, how would you have felt if you would have taken my mom’s life?” she said.
Keeran-Bolen says her mother is still afraid even though McLaren is being held in jail on $100,000 bond.
McLaren is facing counts of aggravated stalking with use of a deadly weapon for the November incident and arson for the January fire, along with other incidents at the home.
FOX5 previously reported that a man who identified himself as “Russ,” spoke with Keeran-Bolen during a conversation over a Ring camera from the home. “Russ” was looking for a man named Brady. Brady used to live at the home. He’s Keeran-Bolen’s brother. But she says he died in 2021, something she told “Russ” during the conversation. “Russ” said Brady had been stalking him and wanted proof that Brady was dead. He later called Brady a “reptilian” and said the home was involved in a horror movie.
FOX5 recently reported that alert people in the neighborhood, took matters into their own hands, when they spotted a man later identified as Russell Mclaren. They subdued him until police arrived. An arrest report indicates McLaren had a machete. The arrest report says there were two large jugs at the scene that had a substance “believed to be gasoline.” The report also says a neighbor said “Russ” was back in the neighborhood and was going to set the residence on fire.
In court, McLaren told the judge he cannot afford an attorney, so the public defender’s office will represent him. A preliminary hearing is set for February.
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