'I Put Her in the Icebox': Disturbing Details Emerge in Fentanyl-Fueled Murder Case
A welfare check at a Las Vegas home led police to a horrifying discovery: a body hidden in a freezer and allegations of murder involving a former roommate. At the center of the case is Jazzlynn (Daniel) Roush, a 37-year-old trans woman, now facing second-degree murder and other charges. What investigators uncovered in the days leading up to the discovery has sent shockwaves through the community.
A Welfare Check Uncovers a Chilling Crime
On Nov. 6, 2024, police responded to a request for a welfare check at the mobile home of 68-year-old Monique Gilbertson, who hadn't been seen in weeks. Her property manager grew concerned after noticing that Gilbertson's car was parked differently, her dogs were barking more than usual, and no one had been able to reach her.
When officers arrived at Gilbertson's home on Tres Piedras Road, they found Roush and another individual by the name of Gina Lopez inside. Roush and Lopez told the officers they had no idea where the elderly resident was. However, a search of the property revealed a horrifying scene: Gilbertson's body "folded up" in a freezer, where she appeared to have been "frozen for some time," Clark County Deputy District Attorney James Puccinelli said to 8 News Now.
A Fatal Relationship
According to prosecutors, Gilbertson had initially met Roush at a Home Depot, where she offered Roush — who was homeless at the time — a place to stay in exchange for help around the house. "There was text message correspondence indicating that Monique had let Mr. Roush live with her for a while to help him get him on his feet as he was transient," Puccinelli said to 8 News Now.
But the arrangement soon soured. Gilbertson reportedly accused Roush of stealing from her and being unhygienic. By late October, she had kicked Roush out of her home and changed the locks.
Despite being evicted, Roush allegedly returned to Gilbertson's home with sinister intentions. Prosecutors allege Roush gave Gilbertson a massive dose of fentanyl to kill her and gain access to her home. "Daniel Roush gave Monique Gilbertson massive amounts of fentanyl in an effort to cause her to be deceased so he could go into her house and take over her life, essentially," Puccinelli told 8 News Now.
A Lethal Dose
An autopsy revealed Gilbertson had 400 nanograms of fentanyl per milliliter in her system at the time of her death — 200 times the lethal dose for a human. Roush's wife, Gina Lopez, allegedly told police she saw Roush give Gilbertson what she believed to be fentanyl-laced cocaine. A powder found at the home tested positive for fentanyl and lidocaine.
In a police interview, Roush claimed to have found Gilbertson unconscious near drug paraphernalia. "I put her in the icebox because I didn't know what to do," Roush told officers, according to FOX 5.
Arrest and Charges
Roush was arrested on Nov. 6 and charged with second-degree murder, elder abuse, and several drug-related offenses, including administering drugs in the commission of a felony. A Clark County grand jury later indicted Roush, allowing the case to proceed directly to district court. Lopez is facing separate drug charges.
A Community Shocked
The tragic death of Monique Gilbertson has sent shockwaves through the Las Vegas community and beyond, highlighting the horrifying consequences of misplaced trust and the deadly reality of fentanyl abuse. Gilbertson's act of compassion was met with betrayal in the most chilling way imaginable.
As investigators dig deeper and the legal process unfolds, Gilbertson's story remains a tragic reminder of the dangers of misplaced trust and the devastating impact of drugs like fentanyl. For now, Gilbertson's family, friends, and neighbors are left to grapple with the senseless loss of a woman who extended her hand to help another.
References: Suspect Force-Fed Ex-Roommate 'Massive' Amounts of Fentanyl Before Stuffing Body in Freezer: Prosecutors | Ex-roommate force fed Las Vegas woman 'massive amounts' of fentanyl, stored body in freezer: prosecutors | Woman 'force fed' fentanyl to 68-year-old ex-roommate before stowing her dead body in a freezer in effort to 'take over her life,' DA says Las Vegas woman was in freezer for at least four days, arrest report says
