The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office announced the discovery in Nevada of the bodies of a couple wanted for murder, both of whom had gunshot wounds to the head.
Detectives with the sheriff’s department and Los Vegas Metropolitan Police Department opened a murder investigation Wednesday and obtained an arrest warrant for the suspects, 26-year-old Hunter McGuire and 32-year-old Samantha Branek, the sheriff’s office said. That evening, police found 35-year-old Martin Eric Nelson, dead behind his vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head.
A witness of the incident, 42-year-old Timothy Wayne Burt, told police he and Nelson came to the location at 2 a.m. to pick up a trailer that was allegedly stolen from them, according to the sheriff’s office. Burt then claimed McGuire began shooting at the pair when they entered the property leading to a gunfight.
Police took Burt to the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility for Hindering Prosecution after he allegedly changed his story several times, the sheriff’s office said. Police obtained a search warrant for the residence on the property and learned that it belonged to McGuire and Branek. They found evidence related to the murder of two residents or Kingman, Arizona named Retta Atkins and Darren VanHouten.
Authorities received information that McGuire was hiding out in Las Vegas from the investigation murder of Atkins and VanHouten, according to the sheriff’s office. (RELATED: Suspect Who Allegedly Killed Son Of Federal Judge Found Dead)
Branek was seen with a second female, 23-year-old Brittany Conkling, at a truck stop Thursday buying sandwiches and drinks in Yucca, Arizona, the sheriff’s office said. The next day, detectives located her vehicle on Alamo Road from Interstate 40. as the deputy patrol approached, the vehicle accelerated, slid off the road and became disabled. Three suspects escaped the vehicle in the remote desert area.
McGuire allegedly carried a rifle as the trio fled detectives into the desert, the office said. McGuire and Branek hid underneath a large tree. Conklin eventually surrendered to law enforcement.
Four hours later, following attempted negotiations, the Lake Havasu City Police Department SWAT team found McGuire and Branek lying beside one another each with a gunshot wound to the head, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities said McGuire killed himself, but it is unknown whether Branek’s was self-inflicted.
McGuire wore a wig at the time and had his rifle lying on his chest, the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office said Conkling admitted to authorities that she had known McGuire was a murder suspect and aided him. She told them that the three suspects gathered food and water and camped out in the desert area.