Suspect in all four Northern Nevada murders in custody

UPDATE 1/23/19 - The suspect in the quadruple murder in Northern Nevada was in the country illegally from El Salvador when he was arrested on January 19, 2019. Tips received by law enforcement led them to Wilbur Ernesto Martinez-Guzman, and as they built a murder case they started to tail him. Immigration officials were unaware of Martinez-Guzman until those tips came in.

Officials did not want to lose the suspect and arrested him on immigration charges as the investigation continued and the murder case developed.

Murder charges have not been filed but a criminal complaint was filed today in Carson City Justice Court. It charged the suspect on three felony charges of burglary for obtaining money under false pretenses, one felony charge of possession of stolen property and five misdemeanor charges.

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A 19-year-old Carson City man has been arrested as the person law enforcement feels is responsible for four recent Northern Nevada murders, two in Washoe County and two in Douglas County.

Wilbur Ernesto Martinez-Guzman was arrested in Carson City on Saturday, January 19 on immigration and possession of stolen property charges. Murder charges are expected to be filed soon.

"We have a suspect in custody," said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said during a press conference in Reno on Sunday afternoon. "We are still in the middle of the investigation, and limited information will be released at this time."

Balaam said they are very confident they have the person who committed the murders of Connie Koontz, Sophia Renken, Gerald David and Sharon David in custody. Family members were standing next to law enforcement at the press conference.

He said they have evidence linking the suspect to all four murders.

On January 10, 56-year-old Gardnerville resident Connie Koontz was found shot in her home, and on January 13, the body of 74-year-old Sophia Renken was found in her Gardnerville home less than a mile away from Koontz. On January 16, the bodies of 81-year-old Gerald David, and his wife, 80-year-old Sharon David were found in their South Reno home.

After Martinez-Guzman was arrested on Carson Avenue search warrants were served at two apartments in Carson City where family members and acquaintances lived, one on Menlo Drive and the other on Woodside Drive.

"Northern Nevada is a special place," said Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley. "These acts are not common, and we're thankful for that."

Coverley said residents can now go about their daily activities and live normally now that the person they feel committed the murders is locked up with no bail.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said they had not had any previous contact with Martinez-Guzman.

Multiple agencies came together and worked continuously on the cases since the first murder ten days ago.

"Without that working relatinship we wouldn't have been where we are today," said Washoe County District Attorney. Chris Hicks

This is still a developing story and will be updated as more information is made available.