A man was arrested in Las Vegas on charges of open murder and sexual assault on June 28. The charges stem from an assault on an unnamed local woman who died from strangulation inflicted in a Palms Casino Resort hotel room earlier in the month.
Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Headquarters. He was immediately booked for murder, sexual assault, and battery by strangulation.
The unnamed victim was reportedly a well-known Las Vegas escort. The 30-year-old woman was taken to a hospital on June 12 after being found with strangulation injuries at the Palms. However, she died of her injuries on June 21.
The cause and manner of her death have not been confirmed as of this writing. But police did say they suspect Kendall strangled and sexually assaulted her.
The Incident
Las Vegas Metro Police officers were called to the Palms on June 12, responding to reports of an assault. They found the victim presenting strangulation injuries before calling a medical team to take her to hospital, where she later died of her injuries.
Las Vegas media say they are aware of the victim’s identity, but are awaiting the release of the coroner’s report before publishing it.
Kendall turned himself in on Friday in relation to the case. He appeared in Clark County Court on Saturday. A judge informed him he would be held without bail until at least his next scheduled court appearance on Tuesday July 1.
As Las Vegas Police do not usually issue homicide reports on cases involving delayed deaths, many aspects of the case remain unclear at this stage.
Sex Worker Violence
The victim in this case was a well-known escort. That is, people who are nominally paid for time and companionship, but are almost always sex workers. She reportedly worked for various websites and as part of an agency.
Sex work is, contrary to what some tourists come to Las Vegas believing, not legal in Clark County. Ten Nevada counties do have legal prostitution at organized brothels. However, state-wide prostitution related arrests are up 50% so far in 2024, compared to the first half of 2023.
Violence against sex workers, especially those who are victims of human trafficking, is a big problem in Las Vegas and around the globe.
In Vegas, though, the violence is also sometimes the other way round. In late 2023, a prostitute left a 60-year-old disabled man with life-threatening injuries from a beating in a Caesars Palace hotel room. She engaged in the altercation before robbing him of thousands of dollars.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
