Henderson suspects accused of using obituaries to pick homes in $600K burglary spree

# What happened

# Who's charged

• Shawn James Baird is charged with two counts of felony residential burglary. His age was not released. He has prior arrests listed in the police report, including narcotics possession, DUI, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, trafficking a controlled substance, burglary, possession of stolen property, parole violation, grand larceny and multiple traffic charges.
• Yolanda Marie Gonzalez, 44, is charged with felony invasion of the home, grand larceny (value more than $100,000) and grand larceny of a firearm.

Both defendants invoked their right to an attorney when arrested.

# How police say the scheme worked Police allege Baird and Gonzalez actively monitored obituary postings and discussed them in the days leading up to the invasions. After identifying a target, they reportedly checked addresses and used that information to enter vacant homes. Evidence seized by investigators included messages, screenshots and searches found on Baird's phones that police say referenced obituaries and the addresses of deceased homeowners.

A search of Baird's Facebook page found that he followed a page called "Obituaries in Las Vegas - Nevada" about five days before the first recorded home invasion, according to the police report.

# How investigators connected the suspects to stolen property Surveillance video captured Baird, Gonzalez and others attempting to sell coins at a Las Vegas coin shop. A coin-shop attendant recognized the coins as likely belonging to one of the deceased victims and called police. That tip, plus phone records and messages, contributed to the arrests.

Aug. 14, police found a plastic jar containing a handful of coins in her car. She told officers she had "looked up names that Shawn would send her," then invoked her right to an attorney.

# Stolen items and current status Police report more than $600,000 in missing items: cash, guns, sports memorabilia, jewelry and a significant rare coin collection. Those items have not been recovered.

# Context in local policing This arrest follows another recent Henderson case in which multiple defendants were charged in a string of residential burglaries and home invasions in the area of Seven Hills. Police have pursued patterns in serial burglaries as part of ongoing efforts to address residential theft in the area.