LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A woman allegedly ran over her boyfriend, killing him after finding another woman’s tampons in the trash, according to documents NewsNation affiliate KLAS obtained.
Julie Bush, 30, faces a charge of open murder, according to court records. Bush was originally charged with DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, domestic battery, attempted murder and drug possession after police arrested her on Friday, May 24.
That afternoon, a person called police alleging Bush intentionally ran over a man with a car near Oakey Boulevard and Eastern Avenue in the east valley, documents said. After the incident, the witness reportedly saw Bush “leaning over [the man] crying hysterically.”
The Clark County coroner’s office identified the man as Richard Penardo, Jr., 51. Paramedics transported Penardo, Bush’s boyfriend of one year, to the hospital in critical condition. At the time of her arrest, police said Penardo’s trauma appeared “to be less likely survivable” with multiple brain bleeds and collapsed lungs. Penardo died Saturday, leading to the upgraded charge of open murder.
While speaking with police, Bush said she found another woman’s tampons in the trash and confronted Penardo about it. The two began to argue and Penardo “retrieved a long, steel chain from the residence and went over to her vehicle,” documents said. “He then started to swing the chain around, breaking the windows of Bush’s vehicle.”
Bush then allegedly accelerated the car, hitting Penardo and causing him to fly into the air and collide with a brick wall, documents said.
Inside the car, police said they found a bag of methamphetamine and a bag of fentanyl. Bush also reportedly told police she “took some fentanyl” in the hours before, documents said.
Police obtained video, which they said shows Bush following Penardo in her car “in an attempt to hit him,” documents said. The video shows Bush hitting another vehicle and attempting to hit her boyfriend again. Penardo then starts hitting the car with a chain, the video shows, according to police. The driver then ran over Penardo with the car and backed up, documents said.
Judge Daniel Westmeyer declined to set bail during Bush’s first court appearance Saturday on the original charges. Her attorney also asked Westmeyer to delay the hearing as Bush was not at proceedings due to medical reasons.
Police did not elaborate whom the tampons belonged to, though Bush told police they were not hers.
Penardo served prison time on charges of forgery, accessory to felony, conspiracy to commit murder and insurance fraud, records said. In his most recent case, a judge sentenced Penardo to 3-10 years in prison for unemployed insurance fraud. The claims were filed while Penardo and his codefendants were incarcerated, officials said at the time of his sentencing.
Before that, Penardo took an Alford plea, meaning he did not admit guilt but agreed prosecutors had enough evidence to convince a jury to convict him, for his role in the death of Maria Marino in 2008.
Marino died from ligature strangulation in 2008. Penardo then helped two women, including his then-wife, depose Marino’s body on Mt. Charleston, documents said. Judge Carolyn Ellsworth sentenced him to 2-5 years in prison.
Bush’s initial appearance was scheduled for Wednesday morning. A booking photo for Bush was not immediately available.
