LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A person whose DNA connects him to a Henderson chilly case homicide might by no means serve any time behind bars as a part of a plea settlement, paperwork stated.
Final week, Ricky Dealer, 48, agreed to plead responsible to a cost of second-degree homicide for the 2003 demise of Theresa Romano. Henderson police arrested Dealer in July 2024 after they stated DNA and fingerprints related him to Romano’s homicide.
On the time of his arrest, Dealer was on parole for the 2003 homicide of Robert Wittwer. The Nevada Parole Board granted Dealer parole after he served 18 years of a 10-to-25-year sentence in that case, information stated.
As a part of the plea settlement for Romano’s homicide, Dealer might serve the 2 sentences “concurrently,” which means his new sentence would run similtaneously the primary. The plea doc signifies “because [Romano’s murder] predates the [the second murder], [Trader] is entitled to have his sentences run concurrently.”
Photograph of Theresa Romano supplied by Patricia Hinger. (KLAS)
On Sept. 10, 2003, an individual discovered Wittwer stabbed to demise inside a house on East Texas Road close to Boulder Freeway and Lake Mead Parkway, paperwork stated. Police suspect Dealer killed Romano per week earlier.
On Sept. 4, 2003, Henderson police responded to the 200 block of Gold Road, close to Water Road and East Lake Mead Boulevard, a couple of report of a girl, recognized as Romano, found deceased inside a bed room. When police moved her physique, they discovered a crimson pair of bloody scissors beneath her. Police decided that the scissors have been used to stab Romano within the neck.
On Feb. 24, 2004, police obtained outcomes from fingerprints on the crime scene. Dealer’s fingerprints have been discovered on a number of gadgets, together with soda cans, the blade of a determine skate, and a desk lamp, in accordance with the report.
On Sept.1, 2010, detectives visited Ely State Jail to talk to Dealer, who was incarcerated for Wittwer’s homicide. Dealer advised the detectives that he knew Romano and that detectives contacted him and took a DNA pattern from him, however he by no means heard something after, the report stated.
In 2021, the chilly case murder unit reviewed the case. Detectives later submitted a request to have extra proof examined, together with the scissors discovered beneath Romano and a cellphone wire. The swabs for potential DNA have been booked into the Henderson police proof vault till they have been despatched to LVMPD’s Forensic Laboratory for processing in 2024.
In Could 2024, the outcomes from LVMPD Forensic Laboratory’s report confirmed that Dealer’s DNA was discovered beneath Romano’s fingernails and in her underwear, police stated.
On July 16, 2024, detectives contacted Dealer, who was dwelling in Reno. Dealer denied killing Romano and denied having a sexual relationship or realizing her, regardless of saying that he did within the 2010 interview with detectives.
Dealer will likely be sentenced for Romano’s demise on Aug. 20. Sentencing is on the sole discretion of the choose.
