Police probe leads in robberies that led to teacher’s death

By Jackie Valley

Published Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010 | 11:54 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010 | 4:04 p.m.

Metro Police said they have received numerous leads but have made no arrests in the string of robberies that led to the death of an Eldorado High School teacher Wednesday morning.

Tim VanDerbosch, a physics and chemistry teacher, died while walking to school about 5:30 a.m. after police said he was beaten and robbed, then hit by a car as he tried to run away. The car that hit him wasn't involved in the robberies, said Lt. Lew Roberts of Metro's homicide section.

Police linked the attack on 50-year-old VanDerbosch, which happened near Washington Avenue and Betty Lane, to at least four violent robberies that occurred in a three-hour time period in the northeast valley with the suspects brandishing weapons.

Roberts said the victims in the previous robberies were kicked, punched and one was stabbed, but all are in good condition. The suspects appear to be committing "crimes of opportunity" -- targeting people walking alone or sitting at bus stops, he said.

"Basically, these suspects are assaulting people that are minding their business going about their day-to-day routines," he said.

The suspects' motivation, however, is less clear because they are not netting much from robbing the victims, one of whom was a homeless person, Roberts said.

"We're not ruling out the fact that these suspects are doing it just because," he said.

In the meantime, officials said they have boosted police patrols in the area of the crimes while following leads in the case, including looking at other crimes in the valley that might be related.

Police believe two or three Hispanic males and one Hispanic female participated in the alleged crimes that possibly involved a white, four-door Nissan car, Roberts said.

"It is our hope that we will have some arrests that will be made in the near future," he said, adding that the suspects will be charged with homicide.

Students at Eldorado High School plan a "Blue Out" to honor VanDerbosch, who was known for his affinity for wearing blue shirts to school. Football players and cheerleaders planned to wear blue wristbands at Thursday's Eldorado football game and observe a moment of silence, school district spokeswoman Starla Goedeke said.

At 6 a.m. Monday, students and staff will hold a memorial walk and candlelight vigil for VanDerbosch along the same route he walked to school each day -- starting at Nellis Boulevard and along Washington Avenue before ending in Eldorado's parking lot, Goedeke said.

Officials ask anyone with information about the suspects or the crimes to contact Metro Police's homicide section at (702) 828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.