PAHRUMP (KSNV MyNews3) – A Pahrump man who called the police to say he had “done a terrible thing” has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his neighbor.
According to a news release from the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, deputies talked Thursday with Peter Jason Helfrich, 36, who told them that he had killed his neighbor Wednesday.
Helfrich then told the deputies that he then drove up Wheeler Pass Road and dumped the body, hoping it would be eaten by coyotes.
Nye County Search and Rescue located the body over a ravine in Wheeler Pass in Clark County. Nye County General Assignment Detectives assisted Metro and the Clark County coroner’s office with processing the scene where the body was recovered.
An autopsy examination will be conducted by the Clark County coroner’s office and cause of death determined subsequent to the examination.
Helfrich is being held without bail.
Detectives also are looking for Silvia Castillo, who was a participant in the crime and assisted Helfrich in the disposal of the body.
Anyone with information about this crime or about the whereabouts of Castillo are asked to contact the Nye County Sheriff’s Office at (775) 751-7000 or via e-mail at
ncso_detectives@co.nye.nv.us.
