In the early morning hours of January 19, 2017, the life of 59-year-old Donald Paciotti, a male resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, was cut short in a violent encounter. Police were dispatched to his home on Spring Road around 1:30 a.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Paciotti suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was rushed to University Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators at the scene found Paciotti's casita in
disarray, suggesting a struggle had taken place. Initially, there were no identified suspects, but the police believed the motive for the shooting was a robbery that may have been related to narcotics. It was later revealed that Paciotti allegedly sold methamphetamine from his home. After the shooting, he managed to make his way to the main house on the property, telling a friend and roommate that he had been robbed. He was in possession of a gun that did not belong to him, leading his roommate to believe he had wrestled it away from his attacker.
Months later, a breakthrough in the case led to the arrests of two women, 26-year-old Diana Michelle Cordon and 27-year-old Liliana Quezada. Their connection to the crime was established through crucial DNA evidence. Quezada's DNA was found on a baseball cap and a guitar case left at the scene, while Cordon's DNA was discovered on the firearm that was used to shoot Paciotti. The gun had been hidden by Paciotti's roommate but was turned over to the police the day after the murder.
Further investigation revealed that Cordon and Quezada had been at Paciotti's home on the night of the murder, allegedly to purchase meth. Witnesses reported seeing the two women there shortly before the shooting. A tipster also informed police that they had heard Quezada bragging about the killing. She reportedly boasted about how easy it was and the sense of power she felt when she pulled the trigger. Both Cordon and Quezada had extensive criminal records and were subsequently charged with murder, robbery, and burglary. They were booked into the Clark County Detention Center and held without bail.
