Danny Ray Shaw, 21, is being held on suspicion of felony open murder, battery with intent to commit mayhem, first-degree kidnapping and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
The body of a Carson City man, allegedly killed by friends, was discovered bound and gagged in a remote area east of Carson City early Friday morning.
Danny Ray Shaw, 21, led investigators to the remains of Adam Wells, 20, hidden under brush and wrapped in a blanket five miles east of Sedge Road in Brunswick Canyon about 3 a.m.
Shaw, Juan Cervantes Jr., 20, and Tyler Cruz, 24, were arrested in connection with Wells' killing. Wells and Shaw were roommates at one time.
The three were arraigned Friday afternoon before Justice of the Peace Robey Willis.
According to Undersheriff Steve Albertsen, an acquaintance who had heard about the killing came forward to police at 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
He told investigators that on Wednesday night Shaw, Tyler and Cervantes intended to "teach Adam a lesson," after he was allegedly captured on a hidden camera stealing drugs from Shaw's bedroom.
The account given by the witness, matched an account Shaw gave to investigators after they talked with him at his home about 1 a.m. Friday.
According to the report, Shaw told investigators he asked Wells to come over to Shaw's home at 1400 Stanford Drive. Once Wells was inside the house, Shaw allegedly jumped out of the bathroom and started hitting Wells on the head and body with a metal baseball bat.
After a few minutes of beating, Wells was allegedly held at gunpoint while he was "bound and gagged by Tyler and Danny," then dragged into the garage.
Shaw allegedly said while he went outside to back up a truck to the garage to put Wells in, he could hear Cruz hitting him with a metal object.
The two then allegedly rode to the desert and dropped Wells' body off the side of the road. Wells truck was found several miles from there.
"Danny said prior to going outside, Adam was speaking and alert. Adam was also bleeding from his head. Danny believed Tyler's blows were the killer ones," Detective Bob Motamenpour wrote in the arrest report.
Shaw is being held on suspicion of felony open murder, battery with intent to commit mayhem, first-degree kidnapping and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Cervantes is being held on suspicion of principal to first-degree murder and obstructing an investigation.
Cruz is being held on suspicion of principal to first-degree murder, battery with intent to commit mayhem and kidnapping. All three are being held without bail.
An autopsy to determine the cause of death is scheduled for next week.
A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 21.
-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
