Jurors deliberate on murder trial of Todd Tonnochy, accused of killing Reno teenage mother

RENO, Nevada (News 4 and Fox 11) — The jury is currently deliberating in the murder case of Todd Tonnochy. He is on trial for murder. He is accused of killing 18-year-old Hailey Nieto last year.

Investigators say the murder occurred on March 21, 2023, at the Siegel Suites Nevadan in downtown Reno. During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Luke Prengaman of the Washoe County District Attorney's Office called more than two dozen witnesses to the stand during the week-and-a-half-long trial. Those witnesses, including law enforcement officials and DNA experts, as well as acquaintances of the suspect, testified that Nieto was shot in the face in an apartment at the Siegel Suites Nevadan.

Surveillance video outside the room shows a gunshot at 4:45 p.m. on March 21, followed by someone screaming “Oh my God.” The only other man in the room at the time of the shooting other than Nieto and Tonnochy was Daniel Graham. He testified he thought the gun went off accidentally. He testified he and Tonnochy were both surprised when the gun went off.

After Nieto's death, surveillance video and witness testimony showed Nieto's body was slashed to the bone at the knees and she was folded up and placed in a blue duffel bag. In surveillance video shown during the trial, Tonnochy and another man can be seen bringing the bag out on a luggage cart and loading it into a pickup truck later that evening.

The duffel bag and other evidence, such as bloody gloves, garbage bags and women's clothing, were dumped near Cold Springs, off a dirt road on N. Virginia Extension. Three people from the area found the body and called authorities. Another man testified at the trial last week, saying he saw Tonnochy driving around the area in an SUV. Washoe County Sheriff's officials examined the vehicle for evidence and said it contained Tonnochy and Nieto's DNA. Experts from WCSO also testified that the evidence contained Tonnochy and Nieto's DNA.

One of Tonnochy's acquaintances testified in court: “One day I will kill that bitch.” The acquaintance said he meant Nieto.

Public defenders Gianna Verness and Katheryn Hickman called a witness to the stand. It was Daniel Graham, who took the stand last week when the prosecution called him. He testified again that he thought the shooting was an accident. And he did not remember the gun having a magazine with the bullets in it.

After the shooting, Tonnochy and two other people drove to Texas, where they were arrested in a motel room, according to investigators.

The jury is deliberating on charges of murder with a deadly weapon, destruction or concealment of evidence, conspiracy to bribe or intimidate a witness, and conspiracy to deter or dissuade a person from testifying or producing evidence. If found guilty, Todd Tonnochy will be sentenced at a later date. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During the trial, the jury was very attentive, each taking several pages of notes. They seemed very engaged, even when some of the evidence got very technical with DNA experts and very gruesome when autopsy photos were shown.

The trial was presided over by Second District Judge Scott Freeman.