KEY POINTS

  • Police were searching the apartment of Gary Walker, 55, after a woman told police she had allegedly been kidnapped and sexually assaulted
  • A woman's body was found stuffed in a suitcase with a gunshot wound to the head
  • Walker is in custody and facing charges of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and assault with a deadly weapon

A Las Vegas man was in custody Friday after police discovered the body of a woman in a suitcase while searching the man’s home following a kidnapping and sexual assault complaint lodged by another woman.

Gary Walker, 55, was arrested Wednesday by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department after police discovered the body while searching his apartment. Walker was denied bail during an arraignment hearing Thursday and was detained at Clark County Jail. He is facing charges of murder, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, and sexual assault.

Walker’s next scheduled court appearance is set for Monday.

Police said they learned about Walker by a woman who told a marshal at the Las Vegas Regional Justice Center she needed help. The woman, whose identity has not been released, said Walker allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted her, and killed another woman.

Investigators reportedly found a “gruesome” scene at Walker’s apartment when they found the other woman’s body stuffed in a suitcase with a gunshot wound to the head. The Clark County coroner’s office later identified the second woman as Morgan Amaya, 22, and determined the head wound was the cause of death.

Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure told reporters Walker’s criminal history was a primary reason for denying him bail ahead of his trial. Bonaventure said Walker faced seven previous felony charges, including felony escape, and 14 misdemeanor convictions across several states.

tape police
This image shows police tape around an apartment building. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images