Man charged with killing unborn fetus

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- A 25-year-old Nevada homicide suspect will also face an additional charge for allegedly killing the unborn fetus of his estranged wife, an official says.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger said William John Keck will face a criminal charge for allegedly killing the 18-week-old fetus of his wife, Angelique, during an attack this week at a Las Vegas apartment complex, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said Thursday.

Keck had already been charged with fatally shooting 26-year-old Jonathan Lestelle on Monday and attempting to kill his wife, who was carrying Lestelle's unborn child.

The filing of a criminal charge in relation to the fetus' death comes after authorities initially said the fetus was not at the required age for a homicide charge to be applicable.

Current Nevada law mandates that a fetus must have reached 25 weeks gestation to be applicable for a homicide charge.

Roger told the Review-Journal that the new homicide charge against Keck was based on a different state law that could carry a 10-year prison sentence if a conviction is earned.

"We did some research of the definition of an unborn quick child," he said. "It is any movement of a fetus in a mother's womb."