Two arrested in death of Las Vegas woman found stuffed in duffel bag

LAS VEGAS -- A man and woman arrested in Louisiana have been accused of killing a 71-year-old Las Vegas woman, stuffing her corpse into a duffel bag and hiding it in an underground utility vault while they used her credit cards to fund an effort to flee, authorities said Tuesday.

Veronica Johnvae Houck, 23, and Jamar Kenty Webb, 33, are at the Webster Parish Jail following their arrests last week in Minden, Louisiana, a jail official and Las Vegas police said. Both await transfer in custody to Nevada to face charges.

"They befriended the victim and ended up conspiring to murder her, possibly for financial gain," Las Vegas police Lt. Dan McGrath said. Webb and Houck were dating, and Houck was acquainted with Young Suk Sanchez, police said.

Sanchez's decomposed body was found Sept. 22 by a utility worker checking a broken lock on the cover of a water district valve locker near a complex of extended-stay suites southeast of downtown. Sanchez, Webb and Houck lived nearby, police said.

A human hand was seen in the duffel bag before homicide detectives were summoned to the site off Nellis Boulevard between Twain Avenue and Flamingo Road, officials said. It appeared that Sanchez was strangled, and that her body remained hidden for nearly a month before it was found, McGrath said.

Houck faces murder, robbery, kidnapping and conspiracy charges. Webb faces charges of conspiracy, burglary, conspiracy, and possession and fraudulent use of a credit card.