Canadian linked to missing Las Vegas woman, 2 others in northwest Arizona
KINGMAN, Ariz. — A Canadian citizen in custody in northwest Arizona has been connected to three elderly women, including one from Las Vegas, who remain missing after having similar relationships with him.
The probe that initially focused on the disappearance in June of Nancy Hartz, 72, of Kingman, led authorities to Robert Carnochan, 69.
Carnochan was arrested April 13 in Yucca and booked into jail in Kingman on multiple fraud, identity theft and weapons charges. Evidence collected during the search of the Yucca home where Carnochan lived led to the discovery of personal possessions belonging to two other missing women, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Rodney Head identified those women Tuesday as Neva Lindley, 77, of Las Vegas and Verna Clayton, 73, of Dolan Springs. Head said Lindley has been missing since November 2011 and Clayton was last seen in June 2008.
Head said each of the missing women had property or other assets of value and that they met Carnochan through online dating sites catering to older people.
Head said Carnochan has admitted involvements with each of the three women but told investigators that he either dropped them off or that they left on their own volition the last time he saw them.
Head said it is believed that Carnochan has been in the United States illegally since 1993 and that he was living with another elderly woman from California at the time of his arrest. He said the unidentified woman is fine and that she has assisted in the ongoing investigation.
Las Vegas police and other law enforcement authorities from Nevada, and agents from Homeland Security are assisting with case investigation, he said.
Head said investigators are trying to gain access to social media communications, as well as bank account information for each of the three missing women.
Anyone with information about Carnochan or the missing women is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 928-753-0755.
