Woman's Body Found in Freezer After Suspect Was Reportedly Kicked Out of Her House

Authorities in Las Vegas arrested a 37-year-old suspect who they allege killed an elderly woman following a dispute about their housing arrangement. 

Police found the body of Monique Gilbertson inside a freezer in her mobile home in Las Vegas earlier this month while serving a welfare check, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement. 

The department did not identify the victim in its statement, but she was identified in several local media outlets including FOX 5, the Las Vegas Review Journal and KTNV. (LVMPD declined to identify the victim to PEOPLE but shared their statement about the investigation in response to an inquiry about Gilbertson’s killing). 

Daniel Roush, 37, was arrested in connection with the killing, LVMPD said. Multiple outlets, citing police, report that Roush goes by the name Jazlynn.

It wasn’t immediately clear when Gilbertson died. The person requesting the welfare check told police they last heard from the victim on Oct. 22, per 8 News Now.

Gilbertson’s body was found by police follwoing a welfare check request on Nov. 6, per the statement. Responding officers entered the residence and encountered Roush and another person.

The two were unable to say anything about Gilbertson’s whereabouts, according to the statement. Upon searching the residence, LVMPD says, police found her body in a freezer. 

The investigation revealed that Roush had met the elderly woman at a Home Depot when Gilberton offered Roush a place to stay in exchange for help around the house, FOX 5, the Las Vegas Review Journal and KTNV reported, citing an arrest report.  

However, Gilbertson soon got annoyed with Roush over alleged cleanliness issues, according to witness accounts cited in the report. Gilbertson also suspected Roush of stealing her belongings, per police, FOX 5 and KTNV reported. She then reportedly kicked Roush out, police claimed, according to 8 News Now and the Las Vegas Review Journal. 

Roush allegedly told police Gilbertson was found unconscious near her kitchen table one day, with drug paraphernalia on the table, FOX 5, KTNV and 8 News Now. 

“I put her in the icebox because I didn’t know what to do,” Roush told police, per FOX 5. 

Roush’s wife, who was present when police arrived at Gilbertson’s door, allegedly told authorities she heard from Roush that Gilbertson had overdosed on cocaine and fentanyl, per KTNV and the Las Vegas Review Journal. 

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Roush was booked into the Clark County Detention Center for on an open murder charge, LVMPD said.

Roush entered a plea of not guilty during a court appearance on Wednesday, Nov. 13, per Las Vegas Review Journal, FOX 5 and KSNV.