Las Vegas police have made a significant breakthrough in a cold case that dates back 30 years, involving the murder of Melonie White, a 27-year-old woman. In August 1994, just before the start of the semester at Arizona State University, her brother, Jason White, received devastating news: his sister’s body had been discovered.
Melonie had been living between Las Vegas and Phoenix while trying to establish her career and was last seen by friends on August 26, 1994. The following day, her body was found by hikers in a remote area near Lake Mead Boulevard, revealing that she had been strangled and bludgeoned before being dragged into a desert wash.
At the time of her death, the investigation generated numerous tips, but none led to an arrest. In 1997, Melonie’s murder was highlighted alongside other unsolved female homicides in the Lake Mead area; however, no connections were established among the cases.
Years later, in 2010, police analyzed evidence from the crime scene, obtaining a DNA profile of the suspect, but it did not match any entries in the national database. It wasn’t until 2021, with assistance from the Vegas Justice League nonprofit, that the genetic material was sent to Othram Labs in Texas for advanced analysis.
On August 26, 2024—exactly 30 years after Melonie was last seen—Othram Labs contacted the Las Vegas police with a breakthrough: they identified the killer as Arthur Joseph Lavery.
Las Vegas Police Solve 30-Year-Old Cold Case, Identifying Killer of Melonie White Through DNA Analysis
Lavery, who had a prior battery charge but no significant criminal record, was born in 1955 and attended Valley High School in Las Vegas. At the time of Melonie’s murder, he was 38 years old. Tragically, he passed away in 2021 due to complications related to COVID-19, leaving behind limited information about his life.
Despite this long-awaited identification, there is no known connection between Lavery and Melonie White. Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson acknowledged the limitations of the information available about Lavery during a press briefing.
Walter White, Melonie’s brother, expressed a desire to focus on his sister rather than the details of her killer’s life, emphasizing the impact of her death on their family and particularly their mother. The emotional toll of losing Melonie has lingered for decades, and her family has found some comfort in finally receiving closure.
The investigation into Melonie White’s murder exemplifies the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and forensic teams to solve cold cases using modern technology. Collaboration with organizations like Othram Labs has proven crucial in identifying suspects in cases that remained unsolved for years.
For the White family, the resolution of Melonie’s case serves not only as a means of closure but also highlights the enduring impact of loss and the importance of justice, even after decades have passed.
