LAS VEGAS (AP)
Homicides reached a record high in Las Vegas in 2005.
Two homicide patterns stood out: bodies burned and slayings involving hip-hop artists.
During the last two weeks of December, four burned bodies were found separately in remote desert areas around Las Vegas. Police have said they think the slayings and burnings were unrelated.
"If there was a phenomenon in 2005, it would have been the different cases involving figures in the rap industry," Monahan said. "I'm not suggesting it's a trend. I'm just saying it happened."
He referred to the deaths of hip-hop artists Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins on May 23, Roosevelt "Mister Looks" Hines on June 2, and Keith R. Jett on July 21.
Professional bodybuilders Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan were arrested in Massachusetts and were being held this week in a town outside Boston pending extradition hearings in the slaying and burning of their personal assistant, Melissa James, 28.
At least 180 slayings were investigated by the valley's three largest city police departments, eclipsing the previous high of 178 set in 2003 and jumping 12 percent from 2004, when there were 161 homicides.
Las Vegas police handled 151 homicide cases in 2005, compared with 137 and 147 the previous two years, respectively. The department covers Las Vegas and unincorporated areas of Clark County.
