In the autumn of 2009, the life of 25-year-old Dane Searcy, a Black man, came to a violent end in Las Vegas, Nevada. On the evening of October 15th, police responded to a call from a residence on Red Bay Way, where they found Searcy's body in the backyard. An autopsy would later confirm that he had died from a penetrating gunshot wound to the right buttock, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The initial story provided by the residents of the home, brothers Richard and Martin Saterstad, aged 31 and 25 respectively, was one of a home invasion.
According to the Saterstad brothers, several masked individuals had forced their way into the house in what they described as a drug-related robbery attempt. They claimed that one of the intruders was armed with a pistol. In the ensuing chaos, Martin Saterstad told police he fired a shotgun at least three times, striking at least two of the intruders as they fled. However, their account to law enforcement was marked by inconsistencies and suspicious circumstances that quickly drew the attention of investigators. One of the most glaring issues was the position of Searcy's body, which showed clear signs of rigor mortis, suggesting he had died sometime before the police were called and had been moved.
The brothers' delay in contacting the authorities was another point of suspicion. They admitted to not calling 911 immediately after the shooting. Their hesitation, they claimed, was due to the presence of illegal marijuana "grow rooms" on the second floor of their residence. The narrative became even more convoluted when Richard Saterstad received a phone call approximately ten minutes after the shooting from an individual claiming the brothers had shot one of his people and that he was coming to their house. It was only after this person's arrival that the brothers claimed to have discovered Searcy's body in their backyard.
Based on the evidence and their inconsistent statements, both Richard and Martin Saterstad were arrested and booked on charges of murder and possession of drugs. However, in a turn of events, the brothers were later authorized to be released from jail because formal charges had not been filed against them. While the investigation into Dane Searcy's death was to remain open, this development left the case without a clear resolution or justice for the young man whose life was cut short. The statute of limitations on murder does not expire, leaving the possibility of future legal action, but the immediate aftermath of the investigation did not lead to a conviction.
