Brother of slain deputy Josie Greathouse Fox found dead in Las Vegas

FILLMORE — The brother of slain Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox — and a potential key witness in her pending murder case — was found dead in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Clark County Coroner's Office confirmed that the body of Ryan Greathouse, 40, was found Thursday in the bedroom of an apartment.

Police are actively investigating Greathouse's death, but Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Castle said he could not comment on how or in what condition the body was found.

Greathouse, of Leamington, Millard County, was pronounced dead around 1 p.m., but investigators had not yet determined the cause of death, a coroner's official said.

The Millard County Sheriff's Office was notified Thursday of Greathouse's death. Sheriff Robert Dekker told KSL he had the sad duty to again inform the Greathouse family of another child's death.

Fox died on Jan. 5 after being shot when she stopped a suspected burglar near Delta. Roberto Roman, 37, has been charged with capital murder in the case.

Her brother had reportedly purchased drugs from Roman just minutes before the deadly confrontation with Fox.

Before the shooting, Fox and another deputy were watching two suspicious vehicles near an area where a string of thefts had taken place, Dekker said. One of the vehicles belonged to Greathouse, according to court documents.

The other deputy followed Greathouse's vehicle, then drove to where Fox had stopped the other vehicle. When he arrived, however, the deputy found Fox lying in the road, and the vehicle she had stopped was gone, Dekker said.

Fox was pronounced dead at the scene.

Greathouse was never charged in connection with the alleged drug deal.

During a statewide manhunt for Roman and the other suspect, Ruben Chavez-Reyes, 36, it was Greathouse who informed investigators what car Roman was driving, according to a search warrant filed in 3rd District Court. Greathouse also informed investigators that he had purchased drugs from Roman just before his sister was shot.

Greathouse claimed Roman told him he would "shoot a cop if they stopped" him, the warrant states. He also said he observed an AK-47 and a Baretta semi-automatic weapon in the car with Roman and had recently been to Roman's house and witnessed an AR-15 in his possession.

Attorneys involved in the case against Roman and Chavez-Reyes would not comment on the impact Greathouse's death may have.

e-mail: jsmith@desnews.com