Michelle Romero Mayor at City of Henderson | LinkedIn
Michelle Romero Mayor at City of Henderson | LinkedIn
Henderson, Nev. – On September 4, 2003, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the Henderson Police and Fire Departments responded to the 200 block of Gold Street regarding a deceased female inside a residence.
The investigation revealed that the female died from sharp force trauma and the incident was determined to be a homicide. The decedent was identified as 28-year-old Theresa Romano, and the investigation remained open for the past 21 years.
The recently expanded Henderson Police Department Cold Case Unit, through continued investigation and updated DNA testing, identified the suspect in this case as 47-year-old Ricky Lee Trader.
On July 16, 2024, Henderson Detectives took Trader into custody in Reno, Nevada and booked him into the Washoe County Detention Center on one count of open murder. On July 22, 2024, Trader was extradited to the Henderson Detention Center and booked accordingly.
Trader’s booking photo is attached.
This investigation involved collaborative efforts from multiple units including the Henderson Police Department’s Cold Case Unit, Crime Scene Analyst Unit, Intelligence Unit, Northern Nevada Parole and Probation Reno Office, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Forensic DNA Laboratory.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4911 or 3-1-1. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit their website. Tips leading directly to a felony arrest or indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.
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