LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A retired veteran said his Henderson home was repeatedly vandalized over the past six months, and while police arrested a suspect in the case, he has no idea why it happened.
“This wall,” Larry Utter described. “He threw paint against this wall.”
Utter told 8newsnow.com he has had a rough six months as he walked around the outside of his home.
“It was depressing,” Utter said. “Having the house destroyed like this.”
The retired Air Force veteran said his home was vandalized by a single person more than a dozen times since January.
“Both these windows here were covered in paint,” Utter explained, referencing his front bedroom window.
Utter said the outside of his property was covered in white paint, rocks, and human feces on multiple occasions. At one point, he said trash was even set on fire in his driveway.
“It was very aggravating,” Utter said. “Very discouraging.”
On Wednesday, Henderson Police arrested Keith Duane Murrey, 51, in connection with the case.
Murrey now faces 17 charges, including first-degree arson, stalking, and defacing property. Utter said he has never met the defendant and doesn’t know why he was allegedly targeted. However, as he started to put his property back together, he told 8 News Now his shock and frustration turned to gratitude.
“All of a sudden, neighbors started showing up,” Utter said. “Saying anything you need, we’re going to help you with.”
He said a local company offered to power wash his driveway, and a group from the Henderson Police Department came out to paint and repair his home for free.
“Bad things do happen to people,” Utter said. “But there are good people that are going to come over and take care of you.”
What started as a sad story has turned into a prime example of the power the southern Nevada community has to come together and make change.
“Out of everything bad comes something good,” Utter concluded.
Records show Murray is due in court for his first appearance on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
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