The trial of Penny Bartlett for the 2009 murder of her lover Teresa Gamboa near the Lages gas station rest stop 60 miles north of Ely began this week in White Pine District Court.
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What was first reported as a traffic accident, has turned into a case of open murder, Monday, with a possible death penalty hanging over an Ely woman.
Penny Bartlett, now 34, is facing one charge of open murder of her lover 41 year old Teresa Gamboa. Both women are Ely residents.
It was a bloody and bleeding Bartlett who flagged down a passing motorist late last month two miles south of the Lages Junction in August 2009. The traveler who was not identified by police called 911 and reported what appeared to be a one car accident. A trooper from the Nevada highway Patrol was dispatched and when he arrived on scene found Bartlett and the body of Gamboa half way out of the vehicle.
According to the NHP report Gamboa appeared to have been the driver of the vehicle and Bartlett the passenger.
White Pine Under Sheriff Scott Henroid was not specific as to the type of the weapon or weapons allegedly used by Bartlett, Gamboa or both women at the time of her arrest. However Henroid did say that the wounds Bartlett suffered either at the hands of Gamboa or self inflicted were of sufficient severity to required an air lift to a Salt Lake City Hospital rather than ambulance transport to William B. Ririe Hospital in Ely located less than 60 miles south of the crime scene.
In addition to the open murder charge Bartlett was also charged with one count of transporting a controlled substance, and three counts of possession of meth amphetamine.
Earlier that year Bartlett was arrested on March 31 for driving under the influence and was sentenced to one month in the White Pine County jail. She began her sentence on July 28 and was released two days later.
The two women, who shared the same house and life in Ely were scheduled to be arraigned the next morning in Elko District Court on three counts each of drug possession and use.
They never made it.
Day 1 of Trial
Opening statements
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part 2
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part 3
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part 4
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part 5
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