County and state law enforcement agencies are going about their work slowly in two important cases of interest in Lincoln County in the past few months.
As noted earlier, Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee reported they are still not quite ready to make announcements about their findings in the homicide investigation in Caliente. Carol Hullinger, 64, was found dead in her apartment in Caliente in late May. The death was later ruled a homicide by the Clark County Coroner?s office.
County District Attorney Daniel Hooge said they are working on getting all the necessary paperwork prepared for the case. In the meantime, he said a suspect is in custody, picked up on other charges, but the name is being withheld for the time being.
In the motorcycle accident July 10, Marisa Border of Henderson, driving an SUV, struck and killed 54-year old James Tanner of Logandale, who was riding a motorcycle at the Pony Springs rest stop turnoff.
Lee said some witnesses have reported Border was seen driving at a high rate of speed before hand, ?but that doesn?t mean she was at the exact moment of the crash. They are going to be really cautious before they come right out and say speed and possibly crossing the double yellow line is the cause of the accident, until the official accident report is released.?
Sergeant Guy Davis of the Nevada Highway Patrol noted witness reports of the motorcycle accident indicate Border?s black Chevrolet SUV was northbound on U.S. 93 near the turnoff to the Pony Springs rest stop. Tanner?s Harley Davidson motorcycle was also northbound and was slowing to make a left hand turn. The SUV entered the southbound travel lane to pass, in a no passing zone. The right front of the SUV struck the left front of the motorcycle. Tanner, who was wearing a helmet, later died at the scene despite efforts by emergency medical personnel.
Toxicology reports on Border are expected to be forthcoming as well as the final report by the Ely Fatal Accident Investigation Team. ?Before anything happens, all that will be done,? Lee said. ?I think it might take up to 30 days or more for this to be completed.?
Hooge said he hopes he will be able to have all the reports on both incidents in hand this week.