A forehead shoe print lead to the arrest of two felons in a Las Vegas homicide case. According to the Clark County Coroner’s Office, Randal Gene Mars, 48, was strangled to death with blunt force head trauma a contributing factor.
The police work on the case led investigators to an empty office building near the site of the murder near Decatur Boulevard and Flamingo Avenue, where they had found Mars after someone reported a man bleeding from the head and face. Mars had substantial facial injuries, including what appeared to be a shoe print on his forehead. Mars was still alive but was unable to respond to medics at the scene. He died days later at University Medical Center.
In their follow up investigation, police returned to the scene of the killing and followed a trail of blood that led to a vacant office building. They entered the building and found David Farkas, 53, and Nicholas Hamm, 30 inside. The police arrested the men for trespassing.
One of the officers observed blood stains on Hamm’s jacket and an injury to his hand as well as blood on Farkas’s shoes as well as injuries to his hands. The officer further examined the shoes and saw what appeared to be a match with the print on Mars’s forehead.
Hamm had been convicted in 2003 of burglary and forgery. Police learned Farkas had a record of convictions for assault and assault with a deadly weapon.
Hamm first denied involvement with Mars but later told police he had punched Mars several times in the face and head because Mars had disrespected his family. Apparently Mars, Hamm and Farkas were transient and together were using the vacant building as shelter. Police said that after being confronted with blood evidence from the scene, Farkas also confirmed that Hamm fought with Mars. Farkas said that he and Hamm dragged Mars outside and left him, still alive.
The two ex-felons were booked on charges of murder and trespassing and for failing to notify authorities of changes to their addresses. Prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Hamm in exchange for the guilty plea in the case. A sentencing hearing was set for May 16 before District Judge Stefany Miley.