Death penalty sought for one of three suspects in Katherine Cole slaying

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for one of three people charged with the July slaying of 68-year-old Katherine Cole.

Cole's daughter, Autumn Cole, 44, was one of the defendants spared a possible death sentence.

Instead, prosecutors will seek capital punishment for Joseph Perez, 45, her boyfriend, and the person authorities think strangled Katherine Cole with a pillowcase twisted into a ligature.

The district attorney's death penalty committee met Tuesday and also decided not to seek the death penalty against the couple's friend, Lorenzo Cardenas-Sanchez, 38, who authorities allege was the getaway driver.

The three defendants were indicted by a grand jury last month on multiple felonies, including murder, robbery and kidnapping charges. They all have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A trial date was set for Oct. 24 before District Judge Valerie Adair.

Prosecutors have called the slaying cold-blooded. They allege Autumn Cole and her co-defendants knew when her mother would be home from work and timed a break-in accordingly, leading to the strangulation of the woman.

Katherine Cole's body was discovered by police July 29 in the garage of her home near Valley View and Oakey boulevards.

All three defendants are being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.

The death penalty committee, whose meetings are not open to the public, looks at three factors when considering capital punishment: whether there are aggravating factors in the case, whether a jury would impose the death penalty as punishment and whether a conviction would stand up under appeal.

If it answered no to one of those factors, the committee would decide not to seek death for a defendant.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.