Police: Nellis sergeant arrested in wife’s death had troubled marriage

Las Vegas police believe the man accused of killing his wife at Nellis Air Force Base Thursday night choked her to death.

Ricky Massey, 32, and his wife Theresa Rivera, 34, got into a physical altercation after he snatched her phone away from her, according to Las Vegas police.

The two got married in February 2013 and Massey was transferred to Las Vegas in April.

Reports indicate that the couple was having problems and had a difficult time adjusting to the move.

Rivera’s parents called Air Force police to perform a welfare check when they hadn’t heard from her, police said.

When police arrived, they found Massey sleeping in his bed. He had difficulties waking up and it looked as if he had been under the influence of drugs, police said.

Rivera was found in the garage covered by a blanket, police said.

When questioned, Massey said he thought Rivera was still alive when he put her in the garage, though he could not explain why he didn’t call for medical assistance, according to the report.

He said he then took an Ambien and went to sleep.

The coroner’s office said Rivera died from asphyxiation.

Massey was a technical sergeant in the Air Force. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center on $1 million bail.

Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@reviewjournal.com. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.