Topline: The shooting came hours after a judge awarded her the house, the truck, and custody of their children.
Published: August 27, 2025 10:00 am ET
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Roidan Durruthy Mendoza (via Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
LAS VEGAS, NV — A Las Vegas man admitted to fatally shooting his estranged wife just hours after the couple attended a divorce hearing.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, 40-year-old Roidan Durruthy Mendoza pleaded guilty to murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the killing of Marillorky Tamayo Cruz, who had just been granted custody of their children, the house, and a vehicle earlier that day.
The fatal shooting took place in August 2023 inside Tamayo Cruz’s parents’ apartment, where she had sought refuge.
Deputy District Attorney Corey Hallquist told the court that Durruthy Mendoza committed the act in front of two children and then fired additional rounds through a door, injuring Tamayo Cruz’s mother and brother-in-law, both of whom were hiding on the other side.
Hallquist added that prosecutors would seek life without parole at sentencing.
The courtroom plea nearly unraveled when Durruthy Mendoza, speaking through an interpreter, suddenly claimed, “I didn’t shoot my wife. That was an accident,” contradicting his earlier admission. District Judge Michelle Leavitt promptly warned that such a statement could invalidate the plea. After conferring with his attorney, he reversed course and reaffirmed his guilt.
KSNV previously reported that the shooting occurred just after 2:30 p.m. on August 17, 2023, following a contentious divorce hearing. That morning, Tamayo Cruz reportedly informed her family she had “won in court” and was awarded custody of their children, the house, and their vehicle. According to a police report obtained by the station, Durruthy Mendoza sent her a message that afternoon requesting to exchange vehicles. When she declined, he arrived at the apartment and demanded the keys.
The situation escalated quickly. Police dispatchers received a 911 call from Tamayo Cruz’s daughter who cried, “Hurry up, hurry up. He’s got a gun.” Screams filled the background. Moments later, the girl returned to the line and said her mother was dead.
According to police, Durruthy Mendoza broke down a bedroom door where Tamayo Cruz and her daughter were hiding, then shot her three times in the head. The daughter responded by stabbing him in the back with a kitchen knife. He fled but later walked into Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters and turned himself in, reportedly telling staff he had just killed his wife.
In addition to the murder charge, Durruthy Mendoza had faced multiple counts including attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, and child abuse. His trial had been scheduled to begin the same day he entered the plea.
Separately, Durruthy Mendoza also agreed to an Alford plea on a nonsexual coercion charge, resolving an earlier case in which he had been indicted for alleged sexual offenses against a minor under 14.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while conceding that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
His attorney, Chief Deputy Special Public Defender Charles Cano, told the court the entire deal hinges on both pleas going through. “If, for whatever reason, that falls apart, then everything falls apart,” Cano said.
Sentencing is set for October 15.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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The shooting came hours after a judge awarded her the house, the truck, and custody of their children.
By Jacob Charles
Published: August 27, 2025 10:00 am ET
Roidan Durruthy Mendoza (via Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
LAS VEGAS, NV — A Las Vegas man admitted to fatally shooting his estranged wife just hours after the couple attended a divorce hearing.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, 40-year-old Roidan Durruthy Mendoza pleaded guilty to murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the killing of Marillorky Tamayo Cruz, who had just been granted custody of their children, the house, and a vehicle earlier that day.
The fatal shooting took place in August 2023 inside Tamayo Cruz’s parents’ apartment, where she had sought refuge.
Deputy District Attorney Corey Hallquist told the court that Durruthy Mendoza committed the act in front of two children and then fired additional rounds through a door, injuring Tamayo Cruz’s mother and brother-in-law, both of whom were hiding on the other side.
Hallquist added that prosecutors would seek life without parole at sentencing.
The courtroom plea nearly unraveled when Durruthy Mendoza, speaking through an interpreter, suddenly claimed, “I didn’t shoot my wife. That was an accident,” contradicting his earlier admission. District Judge Michelle Leavitt promptly warned that such a statement could invalidate the plea. After conferring with his attorney, he reversed course and reaffirmed his guilt.
KSNV previously reported that the shooting occurred just after 2:30 p.m. on August 17, 2023, following a contentious divorce hearing. That morning, Tamayo Cruz reportedly informed her family she had “won in court” and was awarded custody of their children, the house, and their vehicle. According to a police report obtained by the station, Durruthy Mendoza sent her a message that afternoon requesting to exchange vehicles. When she declined, he arrived at the apartment and demanded the keys.
The situation escalated quickly. Police dispatchers received a 911 call from Tamayo Cruz’s daughter who cried, “Hurry up, hurry up. He’s got a gun.” Screams filled the background. Moments later, the girl returned to the line and said her mother was dead.
According to police, Durruthy Mendoza broke down a bedroom door where Tamayo Cruz and her daughter were hiding, then shot her three times in the head. The daughter responded by stabbing him in the back with a kitchen knife. He fled but later walked into Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters and turned himself in, reportedly telling staff he had just killed his wife.
In addition to the murder charge, Durruthy Mendoza had faced multiple counts including attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, and child abuse. His trial had been scheduled to begin the same day he entered the plea.
Separately, Durruthy Mendoza also agreed to an Alford plea on a nonsexual coercion charge, resolving an earlier case in which he had been indicted for alleged sexual offenses against a minor under 14.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while conceding that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
His attorney, Chief Deputy Special Public Defender Charles Cano, told the court the entire deal hinges on both pleas going through. “If, for whatever reason, that falls apart, then everything falls apart,” Cano said.
Sentencing is set for October 15.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Murdered Ex-Wife in Front of Children on Day She Won Court Custody Battle
The shooting came hours after a judge awarded her the house, the truck, and custody of their children.
By Jacob Charles
Published: August 27, 2025 10:00 am ET
Roidan Durruthy Mendoza (via Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
LAS VEGAS, NV — A Las Vegas man admitted to fatally shooting his estranged wife just hours after the couple attended a divorce hearing.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, 40-year-old Roidan Durruthy Mendoza pleaded guilty to murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the killing of Marillorky Tamayo Cruz, who had just been granted custody of their children, the house, and a vehicle earlier that day.
The fatal shooting took place in August 2023 inside Tamayo Cruz’s parents’ apartment, where she had sought refuge.
Deputy District Attorney Corey Hallquist told the court that Durruthy Mendoza committed the act in front of two children and then fired additional rounds through a door, injuring Tamayo Cruz’s mother and brother-in-law, both of whom were hiding on the other side.
Hallquist added that prosecutors would seek life without parole at sentencing.
The courtroom plea nearly unraveled when Durruthy Mendoza, speaking through an interpreter, suddenly claimed, “I didn’t shoot my wife. That was an accident,” contradicting his earlier admission. District Judge Michelle Leavitt promptly warned that such a statement could invalidate the plea. After conferring with his attorney, he reversed course and reaffirmed his guilt.
KSNV previously reported that the shooting occurred just after 2:30 p.m. on August 17, 2023, following a contentious divorce hearing. That morning, Tamayo Cruz reportedly informed her family she had “won in court” and was awarded custody of their children, the house, and their vehicle. According to a police report obtained by the station, Durruthy Mendoza sent her a message that afternoon requesting to exchange vehicles. When she declined, he arrived at the apartment and demanded the keys.
The situation escalated quickly. Police dispatchers received a 911 call from Tamayo Cruz’s daughter who cried, “Hurry up, hurry up. He’s got a gun.” Screams filled the background. Moments later, the girl returned to the line and said her mother was dead.
According to police, Durruthy Mendoza broke down a bedroom door where Tamayo Cruz and her daughter were hiding, then shot her three times in the head. The daughter responded by stabbing him in the back with a kitchen knife. He fled but later walked into Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters and turned himself in, reportedly telling staff he had just killed his wife.
In addition to the murder charge, Durruthy Mendoza had faced multiple counts including attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, and child abuse. His trial had been scheduled to begin the same day he entered the plea.
Separately, Durruthy Mendoza also agreed to an Alford plea on a nonsexual coercion charge, resolving an earlier case in which he had been indicted for alleged sexual offenses against a minor under 14.
An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while conceding that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
His attorney, Chief Deputy Special Public Defender Charles Cano, told the court the entire deal hinges on both pleas going through. “If, for whatever reason, that falls apart, then everything falls apart,” Cano said.
Sentencing is set for October 15.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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