Suicide attempt leaves dogs dead, Pahrump woman facing numerous charges

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Thursday, July 18, 2013 | 12:14 p.m.

A 57-year-old Pahrump woman is in jail on multiple counts, including arson and animal abuse, after authorities determined she set her home on fire and killed several dogs during a suicide attempt.

Diane Davis was arrested Tuesday on one count of first-degree arson, 17 counts of torturing, overdriving or injuring an animal, one count of discharging a firearm and one count of resisting a public officer, the Nye County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday.

According to a news release, deputies responded around 9 p.m. Friday to a report of a suicidal female inside her North Murphy Street residence. While en route, the officers learned the woman was armed and had barricaded herself in the home.

Arriving officers tried for several minutes to negotiate with the woman to come out, but she refused. Officers also learned the presence of several dogs in the residence.

At one point in the negotiations, officers reported hearing a gunshot from inside the residence.

After several minutes deputies noticed what appeared to be a fire inside the residence. Shortly afterward, heavy smoke forced the woman to come out of the front door. Deputies said they ordered the woman to drop her weapon, but she refused and tried to return inside the residence. Officers used a taser on the woman, and she was restrained by deputies.

Pahrump Fire and Rescue responded to put the fire out. A subsequent investigation determined Davis started the fire, which killed several of her dogs.

Davis remains in the Nye County Detention Center with bail set at $35,000, the news release said.