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Las Vegas community gathers to remember woman days after her body was found in drum

Bail denied for man suspected of killing missing woman
Chuck Chaiyakul.jpg
Posted at 7:04 PM, Sep 03, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-06 18:50:19-04

UPDATE SEPT. 5: The Las Vegas community is gathering to remember the life of Jennifer Ratay in the area where her body was found on Sept. 3.

A vigil was held Thursday on Garden Grove Avenue, near Flamingo Road and Rainbow Boulevard. Among the crowd was Ratay's daughter, who shared a few words about her mother.


Loved ones shared memories they have with Ratay.

UPDATE SEPT. 4: Las Vegas police identified the suspect taken into custody as 38-year-old Chuck Chaiyakul. He reportedly gave the missing woman a ride before officers found a body at a residence in the west part of town.

The Clark County Coroner's office identified the woman as 39-year-old Jennifer Ratay with a cause of death reported as multiple gunshot wounds and her death ruled as a homicide.

Chaiyakul appeared in front of a Las Vegas judge on Wednesday afternoon. The judge denied his bail.

UPDATE 11 P.M.: The 55-gallon drum believed to contain the body of a missing woman is on its way the the Clark County Coroner's Office to be opened. Police say a robot X-ray was able to detect a body in the drum.

UPDATE 8:12 P.M.: Las Vegas police say X-rays show there is likely a body in the drum. Police are waiting on coroner to arrive and then the coroner will take back to the coroners lab and open it there.

ORIGINAL STORY
Las Vegas police say they believe the body of a missing woman is inside a 55-gallon drum in the garage of a home in Las Vegas.

Detectives were initially investigating a missing person case near Flamingo Road and Rainbow Boulevard when it turned into a homicide investigation on Tuesday.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Murders in Las Vegas valley for 2019

Police did not immediately share details as to why they believe there is a body in the home.

Officers say the woman has been missing since Thursday and was last seen by a friend.

Watch the full police update below:

One man was arrested in connection to the incident.

Investigators have not searched the container or the home yet. Police say they are waiting for a search warrant and stress that information is preliminary at this time.

Read more Las Vegas breaking news for Sept. 3, 2019

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