Man Who Killed Elderly Las Vegas Couple Dies in Prison

Robert D. Dunn was serving 24 years to life for killing the couple and cashing their Social Security benefits.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Robert D. Dunn, who was convicted of killing an elderly Las Vegas couple in 2003, putting their bodies in a storage unit, and then cashing their Social Security checks for years, has died in a Northern Nevada prison at the age of 63. Dunn pleaded guilty to murder, robbery, and theft charges in 2026 and was sentenced to 24 years to life in prison, avoiding the death penalty.

Why it matters

This case highlights the disturbing lengths some criminals will go to in order to exploit and profit from vulnerable victims, even after their deaths. It also raises questions about oversight of Social Security benefits and storage unit security measures to prevent such crimes from occurring.

The details

Authorities said Dunn killed Joaquin and Eleanor Sierra in 2003, then used their Social Security benefits to pay for a storage unit where he kept their mummified remains. He wrote over 100 checks in the couple's name, spending more than $200,000 of their benefits.

  • Dunn killed the couple in 2003.
  • The couple's mummified remains were discovered in a Las Vegas storage unit in 2014.
  • Dunn pleaded guilty and was sentenced in March 2026.
  • Dunn died in prison on February 5, 2026.

The players

Robert D. Dunn

A 63-year-old man who was convicted of killing an elderly Las Vegas couple in 2003, putting their bodies in a storage unit, and then cashing their Social Security checks for years.

Joaquin and Eleanor Sierra

An elderly Las Vegas couple who were killed by Dunn in 2003.

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The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for stronger safeguards and oversight to protect vulnerable seniors from exploitation, as well as the importance of thorough investigations to bring perpetrators of such heinous crimes to justice, even years later.