Las Vegas Man Accused of Shooting and Dumping Body Near Strip

Loth Rodriguez, a 67-year-old resident of Las Vegas, faces an open murder charge after allegedly shooting and killing a man inside his home, then enlisting another man to dump the body in an empty lot near the Strip, according to an arrest report.

On April 28, Metro police responded to a report of a body wrapped in a tarp in the 800 block of East Sahara Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered the “decomposed” body of Robert Rodriguez, wrapped in a silver tarp in the corner of the lot, with a black braided rope tied around his ankles. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a homicide.

Subsequently, LVMPD Homicide received an email with the subject line “800 SAHARA Homicide,” containing images of the wrapped body. Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed a man pushing a flat cart with the tarp-wrapped body and discarding it on April 21.

A couple informed officers that they had heard from a woman that her boyfriend, Robert, was shot by a man known in the community, who then recruited someone to dispose of the body.

During a stop involving an argument between two unhoused men, officers noticed one of them matched the description of the man seen on surveillance footage. Gennady Zhuravlyon, 48, was taken into custody and questioned, but did not provide any statement regarding the murder.

Further investigation revealed that on April 20, Robert and a woman visited a gas station, where Robert, impatiently waiting, decided to go to Loth’s house. An argument ensued, leading to Loth shooting Robert and threatening the woman.

Upon his arrest on May 3, police found blood spatter and rope matching that tied around Robert’s ankles in Loth’s home. Loth claimed the shooting was accidental, stating he meant to scare Robert.

Loth Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in court in July.

Credits: 8 News Now