Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to Las Vegas police, where he allegedly confessed to strangling and sexually assaulting Larissa Garcia, 30, in a hotel room
A man has been charged with the murder of a single mother who was found unconscious in a Las Vegas hotel room after he anonymously called police to report she had overdosed, authorities said.
On June 28, Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, where he allegedly confessed to strangling and sexually assaulting Larissa Garcia, 30, police said in an arrest report obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
According to a press release, officers responded to Spring Valley Hospital on June 12 after receiving a report of a woman who had been the victim of possible assault and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
According to police, she was found unconscious in a hotel room on West Flamingo Road and pronounced dead on June 21.
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The arrest report states that an unnamed person — later identified as Kendall — called 911 on June 12 to report that a woman had overdosed and that he was no longer with her, KSNV reported. Hotel security found the woman dressed only in her underwear and with a cut on her jawline, but police were not immediately called to the scene because of the possible overdose.
She was then taken to hospital by paramedics, where she underwent a toxicology screening, which showed she had no drugs or alcohol in her system, according to the report cited by KSNV.
According to the Las Vegas Review-JournalThe arrest report states that police learned the room was registered to Kendall, who planned to meet Garcia, a sex worker, at the hotel.
Hotel surveillance footage allegedly showed Kendall meeting Garcia in the lobby around 4 p.m. local time on June 12 and leaving a room alone about an hour later, according to court documents also obtained by 8 News Now. No one else was seen entering or leaving the room until hotel security arrived.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Jason Kendall
Although he initially refused to speak to police, who questioned him and asked for an attorney, the report states that police noted that Kendall had injuries to his back and shoulder, according to 8 News Now.
On June 28, when Kendall turned himself in to police, he gave a statement saying he had paid Garcia $2,000 for sex, according to the report filed by the Las Vegas Review-JournalHowever, Kendall claimed he “snapped” when Garcia asked for more money. He allegedly admitted to punching her in the face and “choking” her for “10 minutes,” the report said.
Kendall is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on charges of open murder, sexual assault and assault by strangulation to commit sexual assault. Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. It is unclear whether he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
According to 8 News Now, her loved ones described Garcia as a single mother.
A GoFundMe page set up to help Garcia’s mother with funeral expenses says she had two children.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share this devastating news of Larissa’s sudden passing,” wrote Dawn Brown, fundraiser organizer. “At just 30 years old, she was taken from us unexpectedly, leaving a void that can never be filled. She was a light in our lives, full of love and laughter.”
Through July 4, the fundraiser has raised more than $17,500 in donations.
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