By Mary O’KEEFE
The body in a Las Vegas morgue has been identified as the husband of murder victim Renata Klein.
Hikers in a desert area east of Las Vegas discovered the body of Dusan Klein, 59, an apparent suicide victim.
“His body was discovered on June 16 but he had no identification and was listed as a John Doe,” said Det. Q. Rodriguez, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide.
Public Works employees in the Big Tujunga area of Angeles National Forest had discovered Renata’s bodyon June 15. Her death was determined a homicide.
The Kleins and their dog, Cindy, had been missing from their Canyon County home since the weekend of June 11. Detectives released flyers of the missing husband, dog and the couple’s Jeep Cherokee.
“The couple’s [Jeep] was found about 10 miles away from [Dusan’s body] on June 26,” Rodriguez said.
It appeared the keys had been left in the vehicle and may have been taken by an unknown person and driven 10 miles away and abandoned.
LASD homicide detectives traveled to Las Vegas and continued the search for the husband. They handed out “Information Wanted” posters and then found that the John Doe in the Nevada coroner’s office was in fact Dusan.
“There was no sign of the dog,” Rodriguez said. “But we do believe the dog was killed. We found animal blood in the back seat of the [Jeep].”
Soon after the couple was reported missing a notice of foreclosure was placed on their home.
“Based on our investigation [Renata] was not aware of the extent of their financial [problems],” Rodriguez said.
He added that everyone they spoke with had positive things to say about the couple.