After Winters police received a tip as to the whereabouts of William Carl Gardner III and relayed the information to authorities in Las Vegas, NV, the alleged killer of his ex-girlfriend Leslie Pinkston was captured alive after a six-hour standoff involving hostages.
Gardner (30) is accused of walking up to Pinkston as she sat in her SUV parked in downtown Winters on the morning of November 18 and shooting her multiple times through her window. Pinkston was merely taking a break from her job at a nearby Railroad Avenue business.
Now, subsequent to his capture at the Camden Pointe Apartments a few miles from the Las Vegas casino strip, Gardner has a date with a Clark County, Nevada judge who will read the murder warrant that Winters police were granted the night Pinkston was killed.
At that hearing, Gardner can choose to be extradited to Yolo County to stand trial; if so, he could be jailed in Yolo County in a matter of days. If he opposes extradition, then Yolo prosecutors will begin formal extradition procedures. Within 60 days, they must seek a warrant from the governor ordering Gardner to be transported to the Yolo County Jail.
Gardner was arrested after a six-hour standoff, holed up inside an apartment with a man, woman, and young child. Authorities said these people were friends of Gardner’s, but not related to him. The U.S. Marshall’s service, which specializes in tracking down fugitives, assisted in apprehending him.
Authorities said the investigation into Gardner’s motives is ongoing.
Read more:
The Davis Enterprise: Winters murder suspect due in Nevada court
AZ Central: Fugitive in Calif. slaying held after Vegas arrest
News10: Man suspected in Winters slaying arrested after Vegas standoff
