Henry Namett

Henry Namett was an 82-year-old Caucasian man living in what should have been the safety of an assisted living group home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The final days of 2012, however, brought a brutal and unexpected end to his life, shattering the peace of the residence and leaving a community in shock.

The tragedy unfolded on Sunday, December 30, 2012, inside the group home located in the 3700 block of West Washington Avenue, near Valley View Boulevard. That day, both Henry and a beloved caretaker, 59-year-old Elenita Ablao, were viciously attacked. When officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the home, they discovered a horrific scene. Henry and Elenita were found dead, having suffered multiple, severe wounds to their heads. The weapon used was a hammer. In a room with one of the victims, police found another resident, 68-year-old David Settle, wearing only a diaper and suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds to his ankles and head.

Settle was taken into custody and, according to his arrest report, confessed to the killings. He told investigators he had struck both Henry and Elenita more than 20 times each in the head with the hammer. The motive for the attack remained unclear, as Settle told detectives that he "actually liked both of them," noting that Henry would smile at him and Elenita cooked for him. However, he also expressed feelings of being financially taken advantage of by the home's owner and claimed his belongings were being given away. After the attack, Settle said he walked to a nearby Walgreens, purchased a bottle of wine and cigars, and then returned to the residence where he unsuccessfully attempted to take his own life.

The investigation revealed a troubled history for David Settle. His ex-wife, to whom he was married for 17 years, described a history of alcoholism, drug addiction, and domestic violence. She stated that he was an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam and may have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. She also said he had been depressed throughout their marriage and had attempted suicide multiple times after their divorce. She was shaken to learn of the charges against him, believing he must have been drunk, high, or "losing his mind."

David Settle was arrested and charged with two counts of murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He was held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. During his initial court appearances in January 2013, his public defender immediately raised concerns about his mental state, suggesting that a medical examination would be necessary. The facts of the case, his attorney argued, made it obvious there were potential mental health issues at play.

By March 2013, Settle had been evaluated by three different psychologists. While all three agreed that he suffered from dementia, they offered conflicting opinions on his legal competency to stand trial. Two of the experts deemed him incompetent with no foreseeable probability of becoming competent, while the third believed he was competent. To resolve the conflicting assessments, a Clark County District Judge ordered that Settle be transferred to Lake’s Crossing Center, a maximum-security state forensic facility in Sparks, Nevada, for more extensive and in-depth psychological evaluations.

The case highlighted profound concerns about the care and oversight within assisted living facilities, especially those managing residents with severe cognitive and mental health challenges. The legal proceedings focused on whether David Settle was mentally fit to be held responsible for the deaths of Henry Namett and Elenita Ablao. As of March 2013, Settle was awaiting transfer for further evaluation, and future court dates had not been scheduled, leaving the final legal resolution of the tragic case pending. The case against him was ultimately dismissed in August 2013 after he was found incompetent to stand trial and was civilly committed to a state mental health facility.