On September 4, 2003, at approximately 2:15p.m., the Henderson Police and Fire Departments responded to the 200 block of Gold Street in reference to a female occupant located deceased inside of a residence.
The investigation revealed the female died from sharp force trauma and the incident was determined a Homicide.
The decedent was identified as 28-year-old Theresa Romano and the investigation remained open for the past 21 years.
The recently expanded Henderson Police Department Cold Case Unit, through continued investigation and updated DNA testing, identified the suspect in this investigation as 47-year-old Ricky Lee Trader.
On July 16, 2024, Henderson Detectives took Trader into custody in Reno, Nevada and booked Trader into the Washoe County Detention Center for the following charge.
One count of Open Murder
On July 22, 2024, Trader was extradited to the Henderson Detention Center and booked accordingly.
This investigation involved the painstaking collaborative efforts of the Henderson Police Department’s Cold Case unit, the Henderson Police Department's Crime Scene Analyst Unit, Henderson Police Department Intelligence Unit, Northern Nevada Parole and Probation Reno Office, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Forensic DNA Laboratory.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4911, 3-1-1, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit Crime Stoppers website. Tips directly leading to a felony arrest or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.
Republished courtesy of the City of Henderson