Couple to stand trial in Stead death

By Mike Henderson

Reno Gazette-Journal Monday August 21st, 2000

A Stead couple facing murder charges in the death of the woman’s ex-husband will stand trial Jan. 22, Washoe District Judge Brent Adams has ruled.

Pleas of innocence were entered Friday on behalf of Gordon DelaVega, 40, and Nell Johnston, 36, in the death four years ago of Joe Johnston, whose body was found under a Stead home last May.

DelaVega, who told the Reno Gazette-Journal in an interview that he smashed Joe Johnston’s head with a table leg when Johnston came at him with knife, is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Nell Johnston is charged with aiding and abetting in a murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Deputy District Attorney Roy Stralla said prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for the accused murderer.

DelaVega told the Gazette-Journal he was high on drugs and starting to hallucinate from lack of sleep when the incident occurred.

He said he wrapped the body in a blanket and dumped it into the crawl space beneath the house.

He said he dumped lime on the corpse, hoping it would make the body decompose, then buried Joe Johnston’s remains.

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