Murder, child abuse suspect appears in Pahrump court

Cole Duane Engelson, 38, made his second court appearance before Judge Gus Sullivan on Wednesday morning.

Nye County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Engelson, of Pahrump, on first-degree murder, child abuse and domestic battery charges last month.

The victim was identified as 3-year-old Yessenia Camp of Pahrump.

During the hearing, Sullivan canvassed Engelson to determine whether the defendant was employed and able to secure his own defense attorney.

“I was employed, but not right now,” Engelson replied.

“Do you have any other income coming in at all?” queried Sullivan.

“I do not,” Engelson said. “It was that job and nothing else,” was the response.

“Do you own any property?” Sullivan asked.

“I do not,” Engelson said.

Sullivan then appointed two public defenders, Harry Gensler and David Rickert, to represent the defendant.

Rickert, at that time, requested a status check hearing before moving on to the pre-trial hearing.

“Your honor, is Mr. Gensler is going to be on this matter with me and I would ask if we could set a status check out for one week for myself and Mr. Gensler to get prepared,” Rickert asked.

As the state did not object, Sullivan granted the status check hearing for 9 a.m., Aug. 9.

According to the official arrest report, Engelson told deputies he was drying off the child, following a shower, when all of a sudden the child’s body became limp.

He also admitted to drinking vodka and water throughout the day, the report states.

“Engelson’s story was changing from she was unresponsive in the shower to she might have been unresponsive when he was drying her off,” the report said. “The only statement that Engelson was consistent with, was that he couldn’t remember what happened to the juvenile.”

At the time, Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Lewis said upon arrival to the home, medic crews made entry onto the property and were met with a disturbance going on within the residence.

“Crews immediately requested the sheriff’s office as well as additional fire and EMS resources,” Lewis said. “Myself and Engine 1 responded, where upon arrival, we found the crews egressing from the property with the patient. The crews performed a rapid transport to Desert View Hospital. However, that patient was later pronounced dead.”

According to the arrest report, Lewis noted to deputies the girl had bruises all over her body.

Upon making contact with Engelson, the report noted that Engelson stated the girl was his daughter and provided the victim’s name.

“It was later learned that the juvenile was not his biological child, but they do reside together at that Manse address,” the report stated.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services was notified to take custody of the other children living in the residence and place them with alternative adult family members pending the outcome of the investigation.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com, on Twitter: @pvtimes