Thirty years after the tragic death of Las Vegas mom Melonie White, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has made a breakthrough in identifying her alleged killer. White’s body was discovered by hikers on Lake Mead Boulevard back in August 1994. Her remains showed signs of strangulation and blunt force trauma, leading authorities to conclude that she was a victim of homicide.
White had relocated to Las Vegas with her boyfriend in the Spring of 1994, but when her family lost contact with her, they reported her missing. At a recent news conference, White’s brothers, Walter and Jason, shared that their sister was a young mother who was going through a challenging period in her life. She was described as being “at a crossroads,” struggling with employment and trying to find her path. Despite these hardships, White was passionate about fashion and divided her time between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
The case of Melonie White’s murder had remained unsolved for decades until 2010 when a DNA profile was entered into a national database. It wasn’t until 2021, with the help of cold case detectives and the Vegas Justice League, that the suspect was finally identified as Arthur Lavery. Lavery, who had grown up in Las Vegas, passed away in 2021 due to complications from COVID-19. Aside from a previous battery charge, he had no other criminal history.
Although many of White’s friends had seen her in the vicinity of Lavery’s residence the night before her death, authorities have not established a direct connection between the two individuals. Melonie’s brother, Jason, expressed gratitude towards the police department and the Vegas Justice League for their efforts in bringing closure to the case after three decades of uncertainty. He described the moment he received the news about the suspect’s identification as a brief but significant conversation that finally provided answers to their family.
Jason White emphasized that the resolution of his sister’s murder brings a sense of peace to their family and honors Melonie’s memory. The identification of the alleged killer sheds light on a dark chapter in their lives and allows them to move forward with a greater understanding of what happened to their beloved sister and mother. The persistence of law enforcement and advancements in forensic technology have played a crucial role in bringing justice to Melonie White and her family, offering a glimmer of hope amid tragedy.
