Body found in suitcase near Boulder Highway

By Colton Lochhead and Wesley Juhl Las Vegas Review-Journal

10 years ago

Residents at The Suites watch as investigators retrieve a body from a water vault near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas crime scene investigators transport a body found inside a water vault in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas police LT. Dan McGrath speaks to the media on a body found inside a water vault in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

(Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Las Vegas crime scene investigators stand over a body found inside a water vault in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

A Las Vegas crime scene investigator exits a water vault where a body was found in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

A Las Vegas crime scene investigator looks for finger prints at the scene where a body was found inside a water vault in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

A Las Vegas crime scene investigator looks inside a water vault where a body was found in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas crime scene investigators exit a water vault where a body was found in front of The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas police investigate the scene where a body found inside a water vault in front the The Suites apartments near the intersection of S. Nellis Boulevard and E. Flamingo Road in Las Vegas Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. ERIK VERDUZCO/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

An adult body was found inside an underground vault that houses water meters Tuesday in the 4800 block of Boulder Highway, according to Las Vegas police.

Investigators took something covered with a blue tarp out of a vault about 4:45 p.m. Metro Lt. Dan McGrath said the body was inside a duffel bag or a suitcase.

Crew from the Las Vegas Valley Water District were checking the vault and meters when they found the body, which was only described as being small in stature, McGrath said.

Police believe the body has been there at least a month and said the water district last checked the vault on July 21, McGrath said.

Southbound lanes of Nellis Boulevard, which intersects Boulder Highway nearby, is shut down between Flamingo Road and Twain Avenue while detectives investigate.

Review-Journal photographer Erik Verduzco contributed to this story.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead. Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl.