Eight years on, there is still no justice in the murders of a young local couple

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Two local families are still searching for answers after a young couple was found dead eight years ago.

Metro Police say Nehemiah “Neo” Kaufman, 20, and his girlfriend, Sydney Land, 21, were shot and killed in their apartment near Hualapai and Peace Way on Oct. 26, 2016.

“Sidney was a girl full of life,” said Steve Land, who is Sidney’s father. “She loved life. She was a very dedicated, spontaneous girl who participated in everything. She was friends with everyone.”

According to LVMPD, a friend went to their home and found the couple dead.

Police suspect a man named Shane “Shuga” Valentine of the horrific crime. Valentine was also charged with a shooting at Kaufman’s mother’s home nearly three weeks before the double murder.

No one was ever charged with the murders of Land and Kaufman.

Steve Land, an engineer with the Clark County Fire Department, recalls arriving at the scene and talking to officers.

“We’re on the phone with those cops all the time,” he said. “When they saw my face, they said, ‘What are you doing here?’ I said, “Well, that’s my daughter inside.” They just couldn’t believe it.

Then the matter got complicated.

Local judge Melanie Tobiasson was accused of meddling in the case and forced to resign. She believed that Valentin was trying to lure Tobiasson’s own daughter into prostitution.

As for the murders of Land and Kaufman, police are still looking for answers in the case.

Land said he spoke with the LVMPD two months ago and hopes new investigators will find answers in the case.

“Every holiday is a free space,” he said. “Holidays and birthdays are spent at the grave, not at the kitchen table around your loved ones. That’s why it’s difficult. Her roommates in college we still keep in touch. In fact, one of her best friends named her daughter after Sydney. But someone knows. People know what happened and they are not coming forward.”

Anyone with information about this double homicide is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.