"Man convicted in slaying of Nellis airman"

2015-09-30T11:59:23-04:00

From: Las Vegas Review Journal

A Las Vegas man was convicted Friday in the slaying of Nellis airman Nathan Paet.

A Clark County jury of six men and six women took a little more than an hour to find Michael Rodriguez guilty of three charges: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon.

The same jury is expected to decide next week whether Rodriguez, 36, should be sentenced to death.

Paet, an Air Force staff sergeant, was gunned down in the garage of his southwest valley home as he left for work on the night of Dec. 1, 2010. Prosecutors said his wife, Michelle Paet, had a fleeting affair with Rodriguez and the two devised a plan to have Nathan Paet killed so they could collect $600,000 from his life insurance.

Nathan Paet was the assistant non-commissioned officer-in-charge for the Strike Aircraft Maintenance Supply section of the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base.

He was born in 1982 in Tamuning, Guam. He and Michelle were high school sweethearts. After graduation, Nathan joined the Air Force in April 2002, and the two married in 2006.

Family members who attended the trial said he worked a graveyard shift to provide for his family and regularly drove his four children, who were ages 2 through 9, to and from school.

His mother, Carmenita Paet, called him "an island boy" who enjoyed all types of outdoor activities, "from the ocean to the snow."

He was good to his children and taught them to respect their elders, she said.

Nathan Paet also was unaware of his wife's infidelity and never spoke of any suspicions with his relatives, they said.

The first of five shots struck Nathan Paet in the neck as he put on his shoes in the garage, prosecutors said. As gunfire continued, he stumbled back inside the home, blood soaking his camouflage fatigues, and collapsed in front of his children while Michelle Paet was inside the home.

Prosecutors said Rodriguez and Michelle Paet planned the murder over the course of six months, while Rodriguez thoroughly studied Nathan Paet's life insurance policy. They determined Rodriguez would get $150,000 for orchestrating the slaying.

Rodriguez, who admitted to being at the scene of the crime, is the first of four defendants, along with Michelle Paet, alleged gunman Corry Hawkins and alleged accomplice Jessica Austin, to face trial in the killing.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/man-convicted-slaying-nellis-airman

Man convicted in slaying of Nellis airman

A Las Vegas man was convicted Friday in the slaying of Nellis airman Nathan Paet.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-09-30T12:00:59-04:00

Justice is served.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 12:10 PM

2015-09-30T12:10:35-04:00

There is no hole deep enough for these people. I don't know who is worse, the wife or Rodriguez. To take away the doting father of these children....let alone the kids watching their father die right in front of them....adding to the fact that at some point they will learn the truth that their mom helped in them losing their dad.....no hole deep enough for these killers.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 30 at 2015 12:23 PM

2015-09-30T12:23:14-04:00

I hope he gets what's coming to him

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 30 at 2015 12:38 PM

2015-09-30T12:38:37-04:00

Hang 'em high.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-09-30T13:00:12-04:00

This is why we should be allowed to carry our weapons in our vehicles on base. We should not have to be unprotected while going to work. My concealed weapon stays on me until I have to leave for work/get in my vehicle. When I get back home it's the very first thing I grab.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Sep 30 at 2015 2:44 PM

2015-09-30T14:44:44-04:00

Kill them both... They both deserve the death sentence...

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 30 at 2015 3:25 PM

2015-09-30T15:25:03-04:00

I hope that your celly finds every hole in your body useful for the rest of your short life...with no Vaseline. I hope his gang finds you in good spirits every night, every day, every moment they spend making you their bitch. I know I'm wrong for saying that and if anyone SERIOUSLY is offended, once again I apologize, and delete this. He killed one of us, so my "feelometer" broke. It defaulted into F*ck it mode. Advocating violence is wrong and unprofessional.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 6:41 PM

2015-09-30T18:41:40-04:00

Nate is one of my boys. We grew up together on Guam then joined the military from there. RIP Brother!!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:32 PM

2015-09-30T22:32:57-04:00

I feel awful for the children growing up with a mother in prison for the rest of her life and their father gunned down in cold blood. I'll be praying for the children

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 11:11 AM

2015-10-01T11:11:15-04:00

... may death to them is the beginning of their suffering ...

Response by SN Greg Wright made Oct 1 at 2015 12:56 PM

2015-10-01T12:56:16-04:00

There's a reason Dante reserved the 7th Hell for traitors....

Response by SSgt Derek S. made Oct 6 at 2015 10:23 AM

2015-10-06T10:23:19-04:00

What ever is decided it will not bring be enough because it will never give thise children their father back.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 6 at 2015 10:31 AM

2015-10-06T10:31:19-04:00

I actually knew the Staff Sergeant. I worked at Strike while I worked at Raptor. I'm glad justice is being served, but it doesn't bring him back.