Las Vegas police reveal suspect in 1994 cold case

Las Vegas police revealed the suspect’s identity in a 1994 cold case.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Melanie White went missing Aug. 26, 1994. A pair of hikers found her the next day in a wash at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

She was 27 years old when she went missing, according to homicide Lieutenant Jason Johannsson. Police believe she was dragged into the wash with a car.

Through an autopsy, White died by strangulation and blunt force trauma. At the time, homicide detectives received many leads, but all were exhausted. The case turned cold.

In 2010, cold case detectives reviewed more items in the case to be reviewed for DNA analysis. DNA came back for a male subject.

Las Vegas police could not find any identity through CODIS, a DNA index system.

In 2021, Las Vegas police shared White’s case with the Vegas Justice League through a partnership.

DNA was sent to Othram. With their help, police would find Arthur Lavery as the suspect.

Lavery has since died because of COVID complications. He was 38 years old at the time of White’s murder.Police said they were unable to find him before because he did not have a lot of criminal history. He previously faced a battery charge.

Johansson thanked the partnership between Metro and the Vegas Justice League to help solve the case.

White’s two brothers spoke at the briefing.The brothers said Melanie was “struggling” at the time of her death. She was switching between Phoenix and Las Vegas.

“She had a super kind heart,” said Walter White, one of the brothers. “A really nice person.”

The two said she moved to Las Vegas in 1994 with her boyfriend and that family was not able to reach her since June or July of that year.

The night before her disappearance, friends said they saw her on Fremont and 15th streets.

Her two brothers thanked Las Vegas police and the Vegas Justice League for their partnership and work to help solve the case.