Body placement key in death of intruder in LV

Two brothers charged with murder in the shooting of a man who entered their house in a drug-related robbery attempt might have moved the victim's body and lied to police, an arrest report obtained Monday revealed.

About 9:30 p.m. Thursday, a caller told police that two residents at 3025 Red Bay Way, near Cheyenne Avenue and Buffalo Drive, had shot and killed an intruder who tried to rob them, the report states.

When police arrived, they discovered one of the residents, Richard Saterstad, 31, smoking a cigarette outside. His brother, Martin Saterstad, 25, was inside the home.

According to the report, the brothers told police that "several" masked subjects had forced their way into the residence through the rear door and attacked the older brother. One of the intruders was armed with a pistol, the report states.

Martin Saterstad then descended the stairs from the second floor and shot at the intruders with a shotgun at least three times, striking at least two of them, the report states.

The intruders then fled. The brothers did not immediately call the police because of the marijuana "grow rooms" on the second floor, according to the report.

About 10 minutes after the shooting, someone used a cell phone to call Richard Saterstad, claiming the brothers had "shot one of his people," and that he was coming to the residence. After the caller's arrival, he and the two brothers discovered the victim in the backyard for the first time, the report states.

The brothers recognized the victim as a man named "Dane," and decided to call police. The Clark County coroner's office confirmed the victim as Dane Searcy, 25, of Las Vegas. The cause of death was listed as a homicide from a penetrating gunshot wound to the right buttock.

Police discovered Searcy in the backyard, on his back, arms bent at the elbows and extended in clear signs of rigor mortis.

"The position of the body was consistent with death occurring earlier and having been moved to its current location," the report states.

Alane Olson, a medical examiner with the coroner's office, said rigor mortis can appear as quickly as 30 minutes to an hour after death.

"Someone who was feverish before they died, or in a violent struggle immediately before, may actually go into rigor mortis almost immediately upon death," Olson said.

Detectives have been unable to locate witnesses or additional victims, the report states.

On Friday, several neighbors said they never heard shots fired.

The brothers are being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.