Two women from Las Vegas grinned at photographers as they received their prison sentences on Wednesday in connection with the tragic death of a 101-year-old World War II veteran. Kassandra Alvarez, aged 32, and Lorraine Alvarado, aged 34, appeared in court to hear their fate following a 2023 armed robbery that resulted in the fatal crash involving Herbert Muskin.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The events unfolded in March 2023 when Alvarez and Alvarado robbed a sporting goods store at gunpoint. According to reports from KSNV, they then led Metropolitan Police officers on a high-speed chase across the Las Vegas Valley, reaching speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. During this pursuit, Alvarez, who was driving the vehicle, crashed into Muskin's car.
Herbert Muskin, a retired dentist and WWII veteran, was hospitalized with a broken neck and other injuries for a month before succumbing to his wounds. His death certificate listed global geriatric decline and aspiration pneumonia as complications stemming from blunt force injuries sustained in the crash. His wife, Sherry, who was also in the car and sustained injuries, died from unrelated complications last year. The couple had been married for 67 years and were returning home from Costco when the accident occurred.
Courtroom Behavior and Statements
At the sentencing hearing, the suspects displayed a chipper demeanor, smiling, laughing, and even flashing hand signals at the camera. When given the opportunity to speak, Alvarado shifted blame onto the police for Muskin's death. 'I would like to say that it was the tactics and the brutal, excessive force that the officers used that spiraled the situation out of control,' she stated. 'A lot of things could have been prevented that night if the high-speed chase would have been called off.'
Alvarado admitted to charges of robbery, resisting an officer, and assault on a protected person with a deadly weapon, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Prosecutors noted that she pointed her gun at an officer after police shot at her. Alvarez pleaded guilty in January to robbery with a deadly weapon, reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm, and failure to stop for a police signal.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Both women were indicted on murder charges, but the defense contested these allegations. 'I did not murder no one,' Alvarado asserted. 'But I know I hurt their family.' District Judge Michelle Leavitt refused to dismiss the charges. Alvarez was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison, while Alvarado received a sentence of 14 to 40 years.
During the hearing, Alvarez apologized to Muskin's family, saying, 'I pray that you may have peace and forgiveness in your hearts and may you leave here with lighter spirits. Today, I want to take accountability for my actions and, with this sentence, right my wrongs with dignity and respect.'
Family Impact and Civil Lawsuits
The victims' sons, Jon and Drew, addressed the court, highlighting the profound loss. 'My father, even at 101 years old, was my mother's caretaker,' Jon explained. 'He was the one who looked after her, drove her, kept their life together. When these defendants took him, they didn't just take her husband; they took the person she depended on to live.' Drew described his father as 'exceptionally likable' and expressed hope that the defendants would not have another opportunity to harm others.
In a related civil matter, Muskin's family sued the Las Vegas Police, alleging that officers Justin Garcia and Jacob Barr's negligence during the chase contributed to the veteran's death. The officers countersued Alvarez and Alvarado, claiming the women were responsible for Muskin's injuries and subsequent death. Alvarez's attorney, Karen Connolly, argued that an autopsy should have been conducted to determine the exact cause of death, though the death certificate provided official findings.
