Coroner: Woman died of injuries after spanking, beating

By Brian Nordli

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 | 1:51 p.m.

An autopsy of a 24-year-old woman who died Saturday after fighting with her boyfriend revealed the cause of death as injuries sustained in a beating, according to the Clark County Coroner’s Office.

Tyanna Reynolds and her boyfriend, Edward Edgerton, had an agreement that when one of them “messed up,” the other would dish out punishment with a belt, according to a Metro Police arrest report.

But the punishment went beyond the belt over the weekend after Edgerton discovered Reynolds was talking to her ex-boyfriend, the report said.

Police discovered Reynolds on Saturday unconscious inside an apartment in the 3000 block of Nellis Boulevard. She was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where she died from multiple blunt-force injuries, assault and bleeding from the liver, according to coroner’s officials.

Police arrested Edgerton on Saturday on a count of open murder.

According to the arrest report, the couple started arguing around midnight after Edgerton intercepted a phone call from Reynolds’ ex-boyfriend. Edgerton told police he pinned Reynolds to the bed and forced to her to write down her recent contacts with her ex-boyfriend.

Edgerton told Reynolds to stand in the corner and read aloud what she had written. He then spanked Reynolds’ exposed bottom 15 to 20 times with a belt for “messing up,” the report said.

Later Saturday, Edgerton discovered more missed calls from Reynolds’ ex-boyfriend, reigniting the argument, the report said.

During an ensuing fight, Reynolds told Edgerton she could not breathe and she passed out after going to take a shower, Edgerton reportedly told police.

He called 911 and asked for an ambulance, but it was too late, police said.