Man arrested in death of woman, daughter in North Las Vegas

From staff and wire reports

Published Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | 9:17 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | 2:33 p.m.

The suspect in a grisly double-slaying in North Las Vegas was in custody for the better part of two days before police discovered the victims’ bodies.

Darius Davon Sorrells, 30, was arrested Saturday after he fled from North Las Vegas Police who had tried to stop him for a traffic infraction, said Sgt. Chrissie Coon, a North Las Vegas Police spokeswoman.

During an early afternoon news conference today, Coon hinted at how horrific the scene was Monday when police discovered the bodies believed to be that of a 53-year-old woman and her 33-year-old daughter, who were reported missing Friday.

Police spent more than 14 hours collecting evidence at the home where Sorrells and the missing women, his mother and sister, lived. The house is near Lamb Boulevard and Tropical Parkway. Coon said Clark County Coroner’s Office investigators were called more than once to retrieve human remains from the scene.

One of the victims — Coon didn’t specify which one — had been dismembered. Police have not been able to identify the weapon used in the slayings, but said there was no evidence of a gun being used in the crimes.

Coon said today Sorrells may be mentally unstable, but police have not given a motive for the slayings. Police, Coon said, also believe Sorrells had continued living in the house while the vicims lay dead there.

Without giving details, Coon added North Las Vegas Police had a history of responding to the house for domestic calls.

The victims have not been positively identified – the Clark County Coroner’s Office will release that information, Coon said.

The last known contact by outsiders with the women was sometime around Wednesday or Thursday of last week, Coon said. The two were reported missing Frday.

Coon said Sorrells was booked into the Las Vegas City Jail on Saturday after a traffic incident earlier that day.

Police tried to pull over the vehicle Sorrells was driving Saturday morning near East Centennial Parkway and Losee Road, Coon said. During the traffic stop, Coon said, Sorrells took off in his vehicle. Police chased Sorrells until his vehicle crashed into a pole at East Alexander Road and Losee.

Sorrells was captured when he tried to run away from the accident, Coon said.

Police have re-booked Sorrells into the Las Vegas City Jail on two counts of murder.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Brian Nordli and the Associated Press contributed to this report.