LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas Metro Police Department revealed new details in an unsolved murder case of Melonie White from 1994.
On Aug. 27, 1994, two men were hiking on Lake Mead Boulevard when they discovered a woman's body placed in a washed area near the recreation area entrance.
Here is video from the scene when the news first broke in 1994
At the time, after an autopsy, police identified the body as 27-year-old Melonie White. Police believe she was dragged from a car into the washed area, strangled and killed by blunt-force trauma.
During the initial investigation, no suspect was identified and the case went cold.
This is video from 1994 where a detective with LVMPD commented on the case
In 2010, detectives re-reviewed the DNA and discovered it was a man but no further details. They re-circled in 2021 with little to no leads.
At this time, the Vegas Justice League stepped in. This is a nonprofit full of volunteers who assist Metro Police, providing payment to re-evaluate DNA samples. They pay for the samples to be sent to Othram Labs in Texas which uses the latest technology, that may not have been around during the original investigation.
Almost 30 years later since 1994, police identified the suspect as Arthur Lavery. He was 38 years old at the time and a Las Vegas local.
You can watch the full presser by LVMPD here
Police said they couldn't find a link between White and Lavery as he died in May of 2021 due to COVID-19 complications.
White moved to the valley in the spring of 1994 with her boyfriend. She went missing the night of Aug.26.
During a press event Tuesday, Melonie's younger brothers Walter and Jason White spoke about their late sister.
“We will always miss Melonie and believe that the solving of her murder will help bring a measure of peace to her and all of us," said Jason White.
Jason and Walter say many members of their family were broken as they mourned the loss of Molanie. They have now found closure with this news.
“She was just a really nice person, it’s tragic," said Walter White.
“We loved her very much and she has, she had a son who is 33 and he is healthy and he is happy and he is part of the family," said Jason White.
This is now the ninth closed cold case by the Vegas Justice League since they opened in 2020. The nonprofit also has a national program where they are currently working to find answers on over 100 cases across the country.
