Las Vegas Sun

May 8, 2024

Court upholds man’s conviction in 2009 murder, arson

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court today upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Charles P. Nelson for killing a man in Las Vegas in 2009.

The court rejected Nelson’s argument that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of robbery, arson and murder.

Eddie Heckard was found dead in his home in 2009, according to court records. He died from a blow to the head.

His home was ransacked and then set on fire, according to records.

The court’s ruling said, “Here the evidence established that Heckard was beaten and killed at the time that Nelson committed first-degree kidnapping and robbery.” Witnesses testified that they saw Nelson coming out of the Heckard house and the beginning of the fire.

Nelson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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