LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — 33-year-old Christopher Martell is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with stabbing attacks on homeless people in Las Vegas.
Police believe Jody Thompson DeVries was the first victim. She was found stabbed to death on Sept. 14. Her twin sister, Judi, says she doesn’t have the ability to comprehend this level of evil.
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In the coming days, three more people would be attacked — one suffering fatal wounds.
On Sept. 20, Mary Susan Miller was killed near where police found DeVries' body. Police said Miller was also living on the street. Martell's arrest came just a day later, when police say he attacked two other people as they walked down the street. Both were critically injured.
Dr. Timothy Jeider, a psychiatrist, says people experiencing homelessness are often easier targets.
"They’re often targeted and victimized, just because of the nature of how they live and where they are in their circumstances," Jeider explained.
Why might the attacker have chosen these victims and harmed them in this way?
"Victims sometimes will be a very specific target where there is a personal relationship that they’re going after, or sometimes victims act as a surrogate for a different personal relationship," Jeider said. “What’s different about stabbings is that it’s usually more up close, more personal kind of attack on someone."
As the investigation into the crimes continues, the mystery surrounding a motive remains.
According to the Nevada Homeless Alliance, nearly 14,000 people will experience homelessness in our neighborhood at some point this year. These numbers are up and largely a fall out from the pandemic.
These statistics also show that 36% of those experiencing homelessness have substance abuse problems, and 33% of them have diagnosed mental health conditions.
