LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas police believe suspect accused of committing a murder on the strip and in the desert used the same weapon, according to an arrest report.
An arrest in the murder on the Strip happened within days, but the murder out in the desert which happened first more than a year ago was just solved.
FOX5’s Kim Passoth has been out to that desolate desert area which is also a hot spot for another type of crime: animal dumping.
Dead dogs and other dead animals have repeatedly been found in the same area near Frenchman Mountain. The area is remote, on the way out to Lake Mead from the city. There are no homes, no business, no eyes watching.
Metro investigators say Dandre Owens executed another man he lured to the area with the promise of a job to pick up trash there.
Monday, FOX5 shared blurred video of dead dogs in trash bags just off the road taken by animal rescue volunteers this weekend.
The animal lovers don’t understand why they keep finding dumped dead animals off Lake Mead Blvd. near Pabco Road.
“There are many reasons that people believe this is happening. We will never know the answer until someone’s caught,” argued Joyce Foreman, a volunteer with Paws Patrol LV.
Police say it was in this same area on Jan. 20, 2024, when the murder took place in the middle of the day.
It took more than six months until a worker cleaning up trash discovered the decomposing body and the lower half missing. The remains found scattered through a wash.
A pelvis was located about a quarter mile away and legs, still in jeans, were found in a bush. A RTC pass, lighter, Nevada driver license with the name Edward Kukish were in the pocket of the pants.
An autopsy revealed Kukish had two gunshot wounds to the head.
According to an arrest report, Kukish was lured to the area by a Craigslist ad which offered a job to pick up trash.
This was part of the ad he answered:
Kukish responded: “Hi name is Eddie a very hard worker. Interested in job postings.”
Near Kukish’s remains, a 9mm cartridge case was found with the words “X-TREME 9mm LUGER” similar to one found at another homicide that happened on the Strip nine days after Kukish was killed, as his body lay in the desert.
Owens was arrested for the murder of Brittani Bailey less than a week after her killing and has been in jail ever since. Owens was rebooked Tuesday on the new murder charge and accused of killing Kukish in the desert.
As FOX5 have reported earlier this week, the continued dumping of dead animals in the area has led to calls for increased patrols and cameras to be added to make sure criminals know someone is watching.
Wednesday afternoon, after learning about the murder that happened there that went undetected for more than six months, FOX5 reached out to Clark County, BLM, and Metro PD asking if there would be any increased monitoring but have not yet heard back.
Owens is set to appear in Justice Court on March 3. His trial is set to begin on Sept. 29 as he faces 11 felony charges.
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