Reno man guilty in Lake Lahontan double murder

YERINGTON - A 26-year-old Reno man will be sentenced in January for murdering two people and attempting to shoot his own father in an alcohol-fueled argument over a fishing hole.

After three hours of deliberation, a Lyon County jury convicted John Stinchfield Jr. on Thursday evening of the murders of George Robles, 58, and Phyllis McKellar, 69, at Lake Lahontan the night of Aug. 28, 1999.

He also fired a shot at his father, John Stinchfield Sr., but missed over his head.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2001.

Stinchfield had been with his father and the two victims on a fishing expedition to the lake. While stopped along Beach 5, Stinchfield stood outside a van arguing with McKellar.

The dispute turned deadly when Stinchfield pulled a .22-caliber rifle and shot Robles, who was sitting on the passenger side, in his right cheek. Stinchfield then lifted the rifle toward his father, who was driving. At the moment Stinchfield pulled the trigger, his father ducked and reached across the seat to help a dying Robles as the bullet whizzed over his head.

Stinchfield Sr. then sped away, leaving his son and McKellar behind. While attempting to get back onto the highway to look for medical help, the elder Stinchfield drove into the camp of Michelle Hollifield near Beach 11.

Her testimony described a flustered Stinchfield Sr., desperate to find help for his friend.

"He was panicky, almost in a shocked state," she testified. "He said 'Have you got a cell phone? Have you got a cell phone? He's been shot. He shot George.'"

Hollifield called 911 and Lyon County Sheriff's deputies arrived to find McKellar's body near the beach where Robles was shot. It appeared she had been dragged several feet.

Meanwhile, Stinchfield left the beach and eventually wandered into the camp of off-duty Reno Police Officer Jack Wilsey. Wilsey said Stinchfield was carrying the murder weapon.

Wilsey convinced a confused Stinchfield to surrender the rifle. Stinchfield then ran away, starting a search that would last several hours and involve more than 100 people.

Wilsey and a companion found Stinchfield hiding behind sagebrush a few hundred feet from their camp. He was pinned until police could take him into custody.

Statements Stinchfield made to police the following day were the focus of much of the trial.

Stinchfield claimed he was coerced by police into admitting the killings. His attorney Ken Ward said the confessions were made while Stinchfield was drunk. District Judge Archie Blake denied a motion to suppress the confessions from being heard at trial.

During the taped interviews, Stinchfield can be heard admitting to the crimes. He said "I just wanted to show them I wasn't f---ing around," and "Phyllis went to jump out. She was flipped out. I didn't know what to do. I shot her."

Also on the tapes, Stinchfield blames his father for the murders. Ward said that is an indication that his admissions were coerced by an interviewer adept at confusing his subjects.

Ward wouldn't comment on the possibility of an appeal.