Authorities in Las Vegas have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the killing of a 61-year-old woman whose body was discovered on a sidewalk outside a business in the early hours of April 21, in a case that investigators say was partially captured on surveillance video and has drawn significant local concern due to the suspect’s age and history of behavioral issues.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) confirmed that the teenager was taken into custody on May 5, weeks after the victim, identified as 61-year-old Marceline Biasini, was found “suffering from apparent injuries” shortly after 8 a.m. in a public area. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Clark County coroner later ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt head trauma, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Investigators said Biasini was known to regularly sleep in the area where she was found, a detail that has added a layer of tragedy to the case and underscored concerns about the vulnerability of unhoused individuals in public spaces. Police have not suggested any prior connection between the victim and the suspect.

According to LVMPD statements, the crime scene itself was partially obscured from surveillance cameras, but nearby systems captured crucial audio and partial video from the overnight hours. Detectives reviewing the footage said it showed a person approaching the area where Biasini was located and leaving approximately one minute later. Although the camera did not directly capture the assault, audio reportedly recorded a loud scream followed by dozens of impact sounds.

Police documents cited by the Review-Journal described the sequence as approximately 61 distinct thudding noises following the initial scream, suggesting a sustained and violent attack. Investigators later determined the victim had been “battered at some point during the night” before her body was discovered the following morning by a passerby.

Nearby businesses cooperated with law enforcement during the initial investigation, and officers canvassed the surrounding area for additional video evidence. Detectives also collected physical evidence at the scene, including footwear impressions believed to belong to the suspect. Those impressions were later compared with shoes recovered from the teenager.

Authorities have not publicly identified a motive, and police have emphasized that the investigation remains active as forensic testing continues.

The suspect, identified by the Las Vegas Review-Journal as Dennis Geiggar, is a former Valley High School student. According to reporting from the outlet and police statements, Geiggar had been expelled from school in January after an alleged incident involving an attempt to start a fire on campus. Since his expulsion, he had reportedly been enrolled in online schooling.

Police have also described a documented history of behavioral concerns. Records cited by investigators indicate that Geiggar had multiple prior incidents involving anger outbursts, including punching walls and trash cans. He had reportedly been participating in anger management counseling prior to the homicide investigation.

Despite those concerns, officials have not indicated that Geiggar was previously charged with violent crimes. His arrest in this case marks the most serious allegation he has faced.

Surveillance evidence played a central role in identifying the suspect, according to investigators. A nearby 7-Eleven camera reportedly captured an individual wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and Vans shoes in the vicinity around the time of the attack. Police later noted that Geiggar was known to wear similar clothing while attending school.

Investigators also obtained forensic evidence from the scene, including footwear impressions that were described as bloody. Preliminary testing on a pair of Vans shoes linked to Geiggar reportedly came back presumptively positive for blood, although authorities have stressed that full DNA analysis has not yet been completed.

Police said the suspect’s physical description matched the individual seen in surveillance footage. However, officials have not publicly detailed how long it took to connect Geiggar to the crime beyond confirming that the arrest occurred on May 5 following ongoing investigative work.

During questioning, according to documents cited by the Review-Journal, Geiggar denied involvement in the killing. He did acknowledge being in the general area near a 7-Eleven between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. with his older brother, but investigators reported that surveillance footage from that store did not confirm his presence inside at the time he described.

Authorities have not stated whether the brother is considered a witness or whether any additional individuals may be questioned as part of the investigation.

The case has been filed as one felony count of open murder, meaning prosecutors are not yet specifying the degree of homicide as the legal process continues. Geiggar has been taken into custody and is being held while the case proceeds through juvenile or adult court determinations, which have not yet been fully clarified in public filings.

Officials have also not confirmed whether Geiggar has retained legal representation. As of the latest update, no attorney has spoken publicly on his behalf.

Community members and local observers have expressed concern over both the nature of the crime and the age of the suspect. The fact that the victim was an older woman who appeared to be sleeping in a public space has intensified conversations about safety, mental health intervention, and support services for at-risk populations in Las Vegas.

At the same time, school-related details have drawn attention to the suspect’s history of disciplinary issues prior to his expulsion. Authorities have not drawn a direct link between those incidents and the homicide, but they have acknowledged that Geiggar had been under some level of behavioral supervision before leaving traditional schooling.

Police continue to review digital and physical evidence, including additional surveillance footage from nearby properties and forensic samples collected at the scene. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of additional leads or charges as the case develops.

For now, Geiggar remains in custody as prosecutors prepare their next steps, and the case moves toward formal arraignment proceedings. Authorities have reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and have asked anyone with additional information or video footage from the area during the overnight hours of April 21 to come forward.