A Reno Man Was Sentenced to Life for Murdering His 75-Year-Old Father

NEVADA – A Reno man admitted responsibility in the September killing of his 75-year-old father and was given a life sentence.

On Tuesday, the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office announced the following charges against 39-year-old Darnell Solis Smith:

Possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 20 years
Consecutive 5-to-20-year prison sentence for the enhancement of committing a crime on an elderly person
One count of First Degree Murder Committed Against a Person Who is 60 Years of Age or Older

The Reno Police Department conducted a welfare check at the victim’s residence in January 2020.

The police were told the body was in the living room, covered with a blanket when they arrived.

Smith, who RPD says also resided there, confessed to the murder of his father on suspicions that the latter was carrying on an affair with Smith’s then-girlfriend.

The police allege that one morning when Smith was angry because his father was making too much noise, he shoved him to the ground, slammed his head repeatedly into the floor, and then covered his father’s dead corpse in a blanket and left it in the living room.

After an examination, it was determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the skull, suggesting that it was a homicide.

Deputy District Attorney Jeff Hoppe urged for a long sentence, saying the murder was particularly heinous.

Credits: Fox Reno