Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 | 2:16 p.m.
Approximate area of beating
Two convicted felons were arrested in a vacant office building Saturday in connection with the death of a 48-year-old man who allegedly was attacked two days earlier in the same building.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office said today that Randal Gene Mars, 48, died from strangulation with blunt head trauma as a contributing factor. A coroner’s spokeswoman said the death has been ruled a homicide.
According to an arrest report, police responded at about 8:15 p.m. Thursday to the area of Decatur Boulevard and Flamingo Road after receiving a report of a man bleeding from the face. The man was identified as Mars and was found to have severe facial and head injuries. He was unable to communicate with responding medical personnel, the arrest report says.
He died at University Medical Center on Saturday.
Investigators found severe bruising on Mars’ face and head as well as what appeared to be a shoeprint on Mars’ forehead.
After learning of Mars’ death Saturday afternoon, police responded to the area where Mars initially was found and located a trail of blood that led to a vacant office building. The building’s lock appeared to have been tampered with and when police entered the building, they found David Farkas, 53, and Nicholas Hamm, 30, inside.
The men were arrested for trespassing.
An officer noticed blood stains on Hamm’s jacket and an injury to his hand, the report indicates. Hamm reportedly told the officer he was a transient. A record search told the officer Hamm had been convicted in 2003 of burglary and forgery.
The officer then spoke with Farkas and saw blood on his shoes and injuries to both of his hands. Upon closer inspection, the officer saw the pattern of Farkas’ shoes appeared to match the shoeprint that was on Mars’ forehead, the report says.
Police learned Farkas had convictions for assault and assault with a deadly weapon in his record and a registered address near Decatur and Sahara, but he told police he had been staying in the area of Decatur and Flamingo.
Further investigation netted the discovery of a large amount of blood spatter on the floor and walls of the office building, the report indicates.
The two men were taken to police headquarters, where they were read their Miranda rights and interviewed.
Hamm reportedly told investigators he had broken into the office building with a screwdriver and was only staying there to keep warm. According to the report, he first denied involvement in any altercation with Mars but later told police he had punched Mars several times in the face or head because Mars had disrespected his family. Hamm denied kicking Mars and said Mars left the building on his own, the report said.
Police said that after being confronted with blood evidence from the scene, Farkas said Hamm had a fight with Mars because Mars disrespected Hamm’s family. Farkas reportedly told police he and Hamm dragged Mars outside and left him.
Hamm and Farkas were booked on charges of murder, trespassing and for being ex-felons failing to change their addresses.
Both men are scheduled to appear before a judge Wednesday morning.
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