Extradition of Suspect in Casino Slaying Is Put on Hold

Murder suspect Jeremy Joseph Strohmeyer was arraigned Wednesday on a governor’s warrant charging him with the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson last month in Nevada.

But Strohmeyer’s attorney, Leslie Abramson, blocked the 18-year-old’s immediate extradition to Las Vegas by announcing her intention to file a motion challenging the warrant signed by Gov. Pete Wilson. Her move delayed further action in the case until July 2, when a Los Angeles judge will decide whether authorities have sufficiently established that Strohmeyer should be returned to Nevada for trial.

Abramson won a court order permitting two doctors to evaluate Strohmeyer’s mental state and possible use of intoxicants before the May 25 slaying. In a declaration filed with the court, Abramson said it was “vital” for Strohmeyer’s defense to have him evaluated by the physicians “at the earlier possible time.”

While Abramson could not be reached for comment on her request for an evaluation, authorities have previously noted that at the time of his arrest, Strohmeyer may have attempted suicide, swallowing a number of unidentified pills and having his stomach pumped before being taken to jail.

In addition, there have been reports that the Long Beach high school senior had begun drinking in recent months and that a Las Vegas detective claimed that Strohmeyer had planned to “develop an insanity defense” by telling friends that he was going to take drugs and “act crazy.”

Meantime, a Long Beach newspaper report raised some questions about the credibility of a teenage friend of Strohmeyer’s, whom Las Vegas authorities plan to call as a witness in the case.

A story in Wednesday’s Press-Telegram quoted David Cash Jr., Strohmeyer’s companion during the trip to Nevada, as saying that he is planning to eventually cash in as a witness in the case. “I’m no idiot,” the paper quotes Cash as saying. “I’ll . . . get my money out of this.”

Although Cash could not be reached for comment, his attorney, Mark Werksman, said he believed that there had been a “misunderstanding” between his client and the reporter.

“I was not there . . . but he denies saying that,” Werksman said. “It is true he has been getting come-ons from people interested in his story . . . but he hasn’t taken any steps to capitalize on this.”

And even if Cash did make the statement, Werksman said, it does not reflect what he has actually done or intends to do. “It wouldn’t reflect very well on his credibility if he tried to profit from this. But he hasn’t and he won’t,” Werksman said.

Las Vegas Dist. Atty. Stewart Bell said that while his office was attempting to determine the veracity of the newspaper report, Cash remained on the list of likely witnesses in the case.

“I think most right-thinking people would find it morally offensive that anyone would try to personally profit from the tragic death of a 7-year-old girl,” Bell said. “From that standpoint, I find it disturbing. But I also understand that his attorney is disputing the statement.”

The district attorney again insisted that his office had not struck any deal with Cash in exchange for his testimony. He suggested that there was plenty of evidence linking Strohmeyer to the crime, with or without his friend’s testimony.

“In this case, there are numerous witnesses and pieces of physical evidence . . . that will be introduced at the trial. And Cash is just amongst that group,” Bell said.