A 44-year-old Nevada woman and an alleged accomplice targeted homes tied to recently deceased residents during a $600,000 burglary spree, police said.
Police identified the suspects as 44-year-old Yolanda Marie Gonzalez and Shawn James Baird.
Between February and June 2026, authorities investigated a series of four residential burglaries across Henderson and Las Vegas, according to police.
Three of the break-ins occurred in Henderson, police said. One took place in Las Vegas, records show.
More than $600,000 in cash, firearms, jewelry, sports memorabilia and rare coins was stolen during the burglaries, investigators said.
The stolen property has not been recovered, according to authorities.
At least one of the targeted homes belonged to a recently deceased woman whose obituary had been published online, police said.
Detectives began examining how the homes were selected, investigators said. They discovered evidence that Baird and Gonzalez monitored and discussed online obituaries before the break-ins, police said.
After Baird was identified as a suspect, detectives obtained a search warrant for his Facebook account, according to court documents.
Investigators discovered Baird followed a Facebook page called “Obituaries in Las Vegas – Nevada,” police said.
Baird began following the social media page approximately five days before the first home invasion occurred, according to investigators.
Detectives also searched two cellphones belonging to Baird, police said.
The phones contained numerous messages, screenshots and internet searches connected to the burglaries, according to police.
Some of the communications specifically discussed obituaries and checking the addresses of deceased homeowners, authorities said.
During the investigation, Baird, Gonzalez and other individuals were captured on surveillance video attempting to sell coins at a Las Vegas coin shop, police said.
An employee at the shop recognized the coins, according to investigators. He believed they belonged to a deceased burglary victim he had previously known, police said.
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The employee immediately contacted police, authorities said.
The rare-coin collection was among the property taken during the burglary spree, according to investigators.
Authorities have not publicly identified the other individuals seen with Baird and Gonzalez at the coin shop as defendants in the case, police said.
On August 14, 2026, Gonzalez was arrested, according to court documents.
During a search of her vehicle, detectives found a plastic container holding several coins, police said.
Gonzalez initially agreed to speak with investigators about the break-ins, according to police.
When asked about her involvement, Gonzalez allegedly said the only thing she did was look up names that Baird sent to her, police said.
She then invoked her right to an attorney, police said. She stopped answering questions from detectives, according to the report.
Baird also requested legal counsel after his arrest, according to authorities.
Police charged Baird with two felony counts of residential burglary, according to court records.
Gonzalez was charged with felony home invasion, grand larceny of a firearm and grand larceny involving property valued at more than $100,000, records show.
The publicly released arrest report was heavily redacted, authorities said. Officials have not disclosed the identities of the deceased homeowners or the exact addresses and dates connected to each burglary, police said.
Police records list prior arrests for Baird involving narcotics possession, driving under the influence, theft, burglary, parole violation and grand larceny, authorities said.
His record also lists possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a stolen vehicle, stolen property and trafficking a controlled substance, police said. Those records reflect previous arrests and do not establish convictions in each case, records note.
On September 3, 2026, their cases returned to Henderson Justice Court as officials worked to consolidate the proceedings, records show. Gonzalez appeared in court by video while Baird was not present, according to officials.
More than $600,000 worth of property taken during the alleged burglary spree remained unrecovered, according to police.
Gonzalez remained jailed as officials worked to consolidate the cases, while Baird was released on a $35,000 bond, court records show.
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