17-Year-Old Las Vegas High School Student Arrested in Beating Death of 61-Year-Old Woman

Las Vegas authorities arrested a 17-year-old boy on May 5 for the murder of a 61-year-old woman found dead on April 21.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal identified the suspect as Dennis Geiggar, a high school student with a history of behavioral problems and anger issues. Police charged him with one felony count of open murder, which does not specify the degree of homicide.

Geiggar is accused of killing Marceline Biasini, who often slept in the area where her body turned up. Officers found her on a sidewalk outside a business just after 8 a.m. on April 21, suffering from apparent injuries, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Nearby surveillance video showed a suspect approaching Biasini's location in the middle of the night and leaving about a minute later, the Review-Journal reported, citing police records. The footage missed the attack itself but picked up a loud scream followed by about 61 impact sounds.

"The precise location of the crime scene was obstructed from surveillance cameras, but video surveillance with audio … captured the suspect approaching Marceline’s location and, seconds later, a scream is heard followed by approximately 61 loud thuds," the Review-Journal report said.

Detectives concluded Biasini had been battered sometime during the night. The Clark County coroner's office ruled her death a homicide due to blunt head trauma.

Geiggar was expelled from Valley High School in January after trying to set a fire on campus. He has attended school online since then. Police records note numerous incidents of him punching walls and trash cans due to anger, and he had been in anger management classes.

Video from a nearby 7-Eleven showed a suspect in a red hooded sweatshirt and Vans shoes, clothing Geiggar wore at Valley High School. Bloody footwear impressions appeared at the scene. Tests on Geiggar's Vans shoes showed presumptive evidence of blood, though DNA analysis is pending.

His physical description matched the suspect. Documents say Geiggar denied the accusations but admitted going to the 7-Eleven around 1-2 a.m. with his older brother. Store video did not show him inside at that time.

It was unclear if Geiggar had a lawyer who could comment. He has not been convicted, and the case is pending.