February 21, 2008
Foul Play Suspected in Cancer Victim's Death

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

An adult male, suffering from final stages of terminal cancer, died in the family car near Ash Springs Feb. 17. According to Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee, Mario Muro, believed to be in his 40’s, and other family members were returning home to California after visiting family in Twin Falls, Idaho.

An autopsy was conducted by the Clark County Coroner’s Office Feb. 19, confirming that Muro did have advanced cancer, but Lee said allegations have been made by Idaho family members that he may have been murdered on the return trip to California.

Lee said the Muro family stopped at Ash Springs on Sunday afternoon and a telephone call was made to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office. Lee said the man’s father told Sheriff’s deputies that his son, Mario Muro, had terminal cancer, was not expected to live much longer and in fact, had died in the car about an hour before reaching Ash Springs. The family then left Ash Springs and deputies finally caught up with their Ford Bronco about 20 miles south of Alamo. The Pahranagat Valley ambulance also responded and brought the body back to Alamo where a preliminary coroner’s investigation began. A call to Muro’s cancer doctor confirmed that he was in the final stages of cancer.

Later, Lee said, his office received a call from family members in Idaho, who said they believed Muro might have been the victim of a possible mercy killing. The family suspected some poisoned apple juice had been administered to him by his girlfriend, who was also in the car on the return trip to California.

Lee said he reported this information to the Twin Falls Sheriff’s office and was told to investigate the murder allegation and conduct an autopsy and toxicology report. Lee said it would be several days before the report comes back.

He said the family members who called thought the poisoned juice was given to Muro before leaving Idaho. “But, we have nothing to substantiate that at all, except the report of some family members. Still, we treat it as a worst case scenario,” he added.

Twin Falls County, Idaho Sheriff’s department reported they would also be investigating matters on their end.