WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news

A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with a string of violent crimes in the past two weeks, including the brutal attack on a Las Vegas family that left a woman and her 10-year-old daughter dead, the Review-Journal learned Friday.

Las Vegas police confirmed that Bryan Clay was arrested Friday morning. He was booked into jail on an unrelated child abuse warrant, but homicide Lt. Ray Steiber said he came to police attention because of his suspected involvement in the brutal slayings and sexual assaults.

Since April 16, Las Vegas police have been investigating the killings of 38-year-old Ignacia "Yadira" Martinez and her daughter, Karla, at their home at 1016 Robin St. Law enforcement sources have said Karla was raped.

The family patriarch, Arturo Martinez, was severely beaten in the attack and has been unable to speak with police.

The family's two sons, ages 4 and 9, weren't injured.

DNA linked the slayings at the Martinez home, which police believe happened on April 15, to the sexual assault of a 50-year-old woman near Tonopah and Vegas drives the same day, a source said.

Clay was initially suspected of a third sex crime that happened Monday, when a 30-year-old woman was attacked near Rancho Drive and Bonanza Road.

There was no DNA evidence in that case and Steiber said no evidence links Clay to the crime.

Monday

AMAZON TO PAY TAXES

Gov. Brian Sandoval and Internet sales giant Amazon announced an agreement to allow the state to start collecting sales taxes on the company's sales to Nevada customers beginning in 2014.

In addition, Sandoval and Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of global public policy, said they will work together to push Congress to pass a law allowing the states to collect sales taxes on all Internet purchases.

Tuesday

BONE DRY ON THE RANGE

Extended drought in the West might force the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to delay plans to ease up on wild horse roundups.

The BLM plans fewer wild horse gathers in each of the next three years in the 10 Western states that had an estimated 37,000 horses and burros as of February.

But a BLM official in Nevada said the agency may have to resort to emergency roundups to rescue parts of herds already hurting for water in at least three parts of Nevada.

Wednesday

EX-CONSTABLE KILLS SELF

A former Boulder City constable shot and killed himself at Sunset Station on the second day of his trial in District Court on burglary and other charges.

Larry Markotay, 44, faced eight charges in connection with a break-in at his former girlfriend's home and the theft of several firearms on Valentine's Day 2010.

Thursday

SHOPS SEE SALES SOAR

Some see proof of a receding recession as Clark County's taxable sales posted their largest year-over-year gain since May 2006.

Statewide sales of tangible goods soared 10.2 percent, to $3.2 billion, while sales in Clark County spiked 11.1 percent, to $2.4 billion, the state Department of Taxation said.

Friday

HARPER GETS CALL EARLY

Las Vegas baseball phenom Bryce Harper made it to the major leagues ahead of schedule.

It was announced Friday that the 19-year-old outfielder was to be called up Saturday by the Washington Nationals from Triple-A Syracuse.

Regarded as baseball's top prospect, Harper headed to Los Angeles, where the Nationals are playing the Dodgers, and took the roster spot of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder.