Man charged in double homicide at residential care facility

CREATED Dec. 31, 2012

  • Print
  • David Settle, 68, has been arrested in connection to a double homicide early Sunday morning at a residential care facility in the 3700 block of West Washington Avenue, near Valley View Boulevard. Video by ktnv.com

    video

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- David Settle, 68, has been arrested in connection to a double homicide early Sunday morning at a residential care facility in the 3700 block of West Washington Avenue, near Valley View Boulevard.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a call at about 4:40 a.m. Dec. 30. Two people had been discovered dead by medical personnel from apparent blunt force trauma.

When police arrived, they found a male victim dead in a recliner and a female victim in the corner of a bedroom.

A paramedic informed police that another resident had told him that he killed the deceased.

Responding officers then made contact with that resident, David Settle. He was on his bed wearing only a diaper. At which time, he also made incriminating statements to the responding officers.

Homicide detectives took over the scene upon their arrival and began investigation.

It was noted that Settle had minor cuts and abrasions on his hands and the insides of his ankles. Knots were also noted on his forehead and temple area.

Settle told police that he hit the male victim in the head about 20 times with a hammer that he got from the kitchen. He then called out to the female victim for assistance and struck her in the head multiple times after she responded.

Settle told police that even after she fell to the ground and asked him to stop, he continued to hit her until she was dead.

According to the report, there was also another person in the room at that time but that person hid under the covers.

Settle also told police that he had no reason to kill the two victims and that he actually liked both of them.

He also told police that although he is an alcoholic, he had not been to any meetings lately and that he felt the owner of the residential care facility was taking advantage of him financially.

After the attacks, Settle went to a nearby Walgreen's to purchase a bottle of wine and five cigars.

Upon arrival back at the care facility, he opened the bottle of wine and then cut the inside of both his ankles in an attempt to commit suicide. He also hit himself in the head with the wine bottle and hammer.

Settle has been charged with two counts of open murder. The identities of the deceased and the manner of death will be released by the Clark County coroner's office.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact LVMPD's Homicide Section at 702-828-3521 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.