LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man was taken into custody Friday in the murder of an escort after she was allegedly strangled during a sexual assault in a Las Vegas hotel room, 8 News Now investigators have learned .
The 30-year-old woman died several days after the June 12 incident inside the Palms Casino Resort, sources said.
On Friday afternoon, Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to police at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters, where officers charged him with open murder, sexual assault and battery by strangulation with intent to commit sexual assault, said a source familiar with the investigation.
Las Vegas police initially responded to the hotel’s call for assault or battery, documents show. The woman later died in hospital. The cause and manner of her death were not immediately available Friday, but police suspect Kendall strangled the woman during a sexual assault.
Although the Metropolitan Police Department issues press releases for every homicide, the department does not issue one for delayed deaths.
The victim, whose name was known to 8 News Now investigators, had appeared online on several escort sites. She also worked for a popular Las Vegas-based escort agency, sources said. 8 News Now was awaiting confirmation from the coroner to publicly identify him.
Kendall was scheduled to make his first court appearance Saturday afternoon.
Investigator David Charns can be contacted at dcharns@8newsnow.com.
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