Man charged for open murder after police find woman's body in freezer

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said they are investigating a suspicious death after a body was discovered in a freezer during a welfare check in the east valley.

Metro said they found the body in the 5500 block of Tres Piedras Road after receiving a caller request for a welfare check around 11:41 a.m. Wednesday.

Initial details from the caller's request said the caller had noticed the 68-year-old female living at the Tres Piedras residence — who had been regularly seen walking her dog — had not been seen outside her home since late October.

The identity of the victim has yet to be released.

The caller requested authorities to perform a welfare check, and the caller said they also noticed some suspicious activity at the residence.

Police said they responded to the scene and made contact with the caller and when they went to the residence no one answered the door. They determined they had enough information to go inside to ensure the safety of the 68-year-old female.

Police said they immediately encountered a male and a female inside the residence who authorities were not looking for, and they were acting in a suspicious nature and could not provide the whereabouts of the 68-year-old female who belonged inside the residence.

Detectives have since learned that one of the detainees, 37-year-old Daniel Roush, has been arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center for open murder.

A search of the residence was then conducted, where police said they found a locked chest freezer.

Police said during welfare checks, it is typical for them to identify containers that could fit the size of the person they are looking for. Due to this, police said they called a locksmith to open the chest freezer, where inside they found what appears to be the remains of the 68-year-old female.

Detectives are now investigating this like a homicide but said it is actually a suspicious death investigation unless they can determine if another individual killed the 68-year-old female. Based on the preliminary details of their investigation so far, police said they cannot rule this as an official homicide.

Detectives said they are still establishing the relationship between the 68-year-old female and the two individuals found inside the residence, but it appears that they may have been roommates. Police said the two individuals are currently in custody.

Detectives also said this does not appear to be a random act.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section or Crime Stoppers of Nevada.

Metro provided an update at 8 p.m. Wednesday that you can watch here.

Report a typo