Man suspected in 2008 homicide cold case arrested

Las Vegas police on Tuesday arrested a man suspected in a 2008 homicide cold case.

Quincy Cook was arrested Tuesday on counts of murder and burglary, court records show. Metropolitan Police Department homicide Lt. Ray Spencer said Wednesday that Cook’s arrest was connected to a previously unsolved homicide from Dec. 19, 2008.

Officers were called to the 5800 block of W. Harmon Ave. “to investigate a suspicious death,” the department said in a statement Thursday. When they arrived, they found evidence that showed that the victim was involved in a struggle.

The Clark County coroner’s office determined on Dec. 20, 2008, that the victim, Richard Cline, 74, had died from neck compression and blunt force trauma, according to the statement.

“All investigative leads were exhausted, and the case went closed,” the statement said.

Police were notified on Nov. 12, 2019, that Cook had been identified as a possible suspect. Cook was already in custody at the Clark County Detention Center for unrelated charges, the statement said.

Court records show that Cook has a criminal history in Clark County that dates to 2009, including charges of vehicle theft, DUI, wrong-way driving, trespassing and drug charges.

Cook is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center on charges of murder and burglary, though the Metro release did not address the burglary charge. His first court appearance was Wednesday and he is expected back in court Friday morning.

This story has been updated to give the correct date of the Dec. 19, 2008, homicide.

Contact Alexis Egeland at aegeland@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexis_egeland on Twitter.