The body of a Las Vegas woman, reported missing in May, was discovered in the Nevada desert, encased in cement inside a “wooden structure,” according to court documents. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) responded to a missing person report on May 31st, around 7 p.m. The victim, later identified as 24-year-old Esmeralda Gonzalez by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had been missing for several days.
Months later, on October 8th, homicide detectives recovered a body in a desert area north of Las Vegas. The body was completely encased in “concrete and in a wooden structure.” While police have not formally identified the victim, court documents name Gonzalez. Shortly after the discovery, police arrested Christopher Prestipino, 45, and Lisa Mort, 31, in connection with the case.
Christopher Prestipino, 45, and Lisa Mort, 31, were charged in connection to the body recovered on Oct. 8 in the Nevada desert found encased in cement inside a wooden structure, police said.
According to an LVMPD press release, investigators believe Gonzalez had been inside Prestipino’s residence. Detectives suspect she was held against her will and subsequently murdered. Police determined that Mort had knowledge of the homicide and “assisted” Prestipino, though the extent of her involvement was not specified.
The pair was arrested on Oct. 11. Prestipino was charged with open murder, kidnapping in the first degree resulting in substantial bodily harm, and conspiracy to commit murder. Mort was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on the charge of harboring, concealing, or aiding a felony offender.
According to court documents, Prestipino allegedly strangled Gonzalez and injected her body with pool cleaner after holding her “tied up to a bedpost for an extended period of time.” He then transported the body to the desert in a rented U-Haul.
Gonzalez, who reportedly worked in the adult entertainment industry and had a large social media following, lived approximately one-tenth of a mile from Prestipino. Court documents also revealed that Gonzalez suffered from mental illness and was seen on surveillance footage the day she disappeared, walking around her neighborhood in high heels and lingerie asking for rides, Fox News reported.
Detectives received a tip in July that led them to Prestipino.