Wilbur Martinez-Guzman pleads guilty to Northern Nevada murders

Over a two week period in January 2019, four people were murdered in Northern Nevada, two in Washoe County and two in Douglas County. Communities and grieving families were stunned by the murders of Constance Koontz, 56, Sophia Renken, 74, Gerald David, 81, and Sharon David, 80.

During a press conference Thursday morning, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks and Douglas County District Attorney Mark Jackson made the announcement that Wilber Martinez-Guzman had pleaded guilty to the murders in Washoe County and will do the same in Douglas County. The Salvadoran native is also pleading guilty to several burglary charges stemming from the case.

On October 21, 2021, Wilber Martinez-Guzman, now 22-years-old, pleaded guilty to the murders and is facing four life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole and an additional 214-year prison sentence. Had Guzman gone to trial he faced the death penalty but this plea took that off the table.

"He will be condemned to a life in captivity," said Hicks of Martinez-Guzman.

Martinez-Guzman stole a .22-caliber handgun from the Davids where he had been hired to do landscaping. He used that weapon on Jan. 4, 2019 to shoot and kill Koontz and Renken. He then returned to the David's home on Jan. 15 to rob and kill them with the same gun.

Martinez-Guzman was arrested in Carson City January 23, 2019 on three felony charges of burglary for obtaining money under false pretenses, one felony charge of possession of stolen property and five misdemeanor charges. He had sold items stolen during the murders to pawn shops.

During the press conference Larry David, the son of Gerald David and stepson of Sharon David, made a statement of their appreciation of everyone involved in the investigation, apprehension and today's conclusion.

Martinez-Guzman has been held without bail at the Washoe County Detention Facility in Reno and was going to face two trials even though both district attorneys attempted to combine the charges and trials. The Nevada Supreme Court recently ruled that Martinez-Guzman would stand two different trials in both counties, with two different defense teams.

“This morning, justice was served in the Washoe County case against Wilber Ernesto Martinez Guzman. This case terrorized Washoe County for weeks in early 2019 and I am pleased to see closure today for the David family as well as for the citizens of Washoe County," said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam.

“Last, though certainly not least, let us never forget the victims of the Washoe County case, Gerald and Sharon David. Their family has been through the darkest of days since early 2019 and I am grateful that today, they see resolution," added Balaam. “To the families of Constance Koontz and Sophia Renken, the Douglas County victims in the larger case, we stand with you and beside you as you seek closure in Douglas County.”