Defendant sentenced to 20 years in prison in attempted murder case

Megan Pedro found guilty of attempted murder.

Reno, Nevada. Jan. 8, 2015. On Jan.7, 2015, the Honorable Lidia Stiglich sentenced 28-year-old Megan Pedro of Reno to a term of 20 years in prison for the attempted murder of 26-year-old Elisha Mundell, the maximum allowed by law. She will be eligible for parole in eight years.   

On Aug. 1, 2014, at a residence in Sparks, an argument between Pedro and the victim escalated into a physical confrontation. After quickly overpowering her victim, who weighed less than half as much as she did, Pedro cut Elisha Mundell’s throat and left her in the bathtub. She returned multiple times to cut her throat again as the victim lay helpless in a pool of her own blood. The victim tried unsuccessfully to stop the attack by grabbing the knife as it was being stabbed into her neck, resulting in severe lacerations to her hands in addition to her jugular veins being cut. The victim reported to police that Pedro had told her she was going to commit a murder suicide during the incident. 

After being rushed to the hospital, the victim underwent emergency surgery that saved her life. Throughout the process of the case, she expressed gratitude to all those involved in bringing her case to justice, including the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, the Sparks Police Department, and Sparks Police Detective Anthony Marconato.   

At the sentencing, the victim and her friends and family were in attendance. The victim took the stand and gave a statement about the effects of the crime on her life and how thankful she is to be alive. She expressed anger and fear, as well as forgiveness for Pedro.   

Washoe County Deputy District Attorney Nathan J. Edwards argued on behalf of the prosecution for a maximum sentence. The Division of Parole & Probation made the same argument.  Relying primarily on Pedro’s lack of criminal history and family support in the community, the defense requested probation. However, the court was unpersuaded and sentenced Pedro to the maximum. 

Defense counsel for the defendant was Marc Picker of the Washoe County Alternate Public Defender’s Office. 

Please direct any further questions to Washoe County Deputy District Attorney Nathan J. Edwards at 328-3200. 

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