Brother blames woman’s death on in-law

Rebecca Huff was behind the steering wheel of a car that struck and injured a police officer March 4 on Fremont Street, but her brother said he wants Las Vegans to know she wasn’t trying to kill the officer.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas police asked the district attorney’s office Monday to charge her husband, John Michael Noblett, with attempted murder in connection with the officer being injured, and with the murder of Rebecca Huff.

The 19-year-old Fort Worth, Texas, woman was shot in the shoulder by Officer James Carroll. The bullet ricocheted and lodged in her brain. She died after being taken off the respirator Saturday.

A Clark County Coroner’s inquest into her death has been tentatively set for March 20, the coroner said Monday.

Carroll, 27, who has been on the police force for two years, is on paid administrative leave pending the inquest, Metro spokesman Lt. Charles Davidaitis said.

"I’m not saying my sister was an angel," Charles Huff, 23, said. "She was an accomplice as big as hell. I don’t blame the law. The boy (Carroll) was doing his job."

"I don’t want the people to think my sister tried to kill a cop. She ain’t no angel now, but nobody walks a totally straight line. Nobody’s perfect, but she didn’t have an arrest record."

Rebecca Huff was shot in front of the Out of State Check Cashing Service at 511 E. Fremont St. Authorities said two police officers were interviewing two people inside the business when Huff attempted to cash a check.

Police said Huff ran outside as the manager told police she had tried to pass a stolen check.

Police said Huff got behind the wheel of her car and started to drive away when Carroll confronted her and demanded she stop. Witnesses said Huff drove her car toward the uniformed officer and knocked him down before he fired the shot.

Rebecca’s brother, Charles Huff, said the passenger who was in the car at the time of the shooting was her husband, John Michael Noblett, and he blames his brother-in-law for his sister’s death.

Charles Huff said Noblett and his sister were staying with a couple that took them in when they arrived in town a couple of months ago. After he was released from questioning by police the night of the shooting, he went to pack his bags and admitted to the couple he was at fault.

"He snitched on himself," Charles Huff said. "He said he turned the wheel toward the cop and the cop reached for his gun, then John ducked and put his foot on the accelerator on top of my sister’s foot … and my sister died. I know I can’t tell you for sure what my sister was thinking just before she was shot, but I know my sister and I know she was wondering what would happen to her children."

Lt. Kyle Edwards said he can’t confirm or deny what Charles Huff said because he was referring to witnesses’ statements and it’s an ongoing investigation.

"We’re pursuing a warrant and charges against (Noblett) in connection with the shooting. Charges have been submitted to the district attorney’s office," Edwards said. "The night of the shooting he had fake identification and he was not a suspect in the crime at that point."

Edwards said Noblett told police he only knew Rebecca Huff casually at that time but they have since learned he was married to her.

Charles Huff said he told police his sister went by the last name of Noblett and that they were married soon after his 9-month-old niece, Heather Nicole, was born. Charles Huff said his sister’s 2 1/2-year-old son, Jeffrey Daniel, has a different father.

Charles Huff said when Noblett and his sister arrived in town with the children a couple took them in because they had a sign that said they’d work for food and diapers.

Charles Huff said the children were left with that unidentified couple. Police said they didn’t immediately know Rebecca Huff had two children.

"He killed his kids’ mother," Charles Huff said. "John knew she had been shot and he didn’t tell any of the family. He could have let somebody know. We found out Thursday from someone at University Medical Center, but we didn’t get here until Friday."

Charles Huff rode in a car with his parents and two of his four siblings to Las Vegas from Texas.

In an interview Sunday night, he reminisced about the good times he shared with his sister. He said he felt his closest to her after he attempted suicide three years ago by swallowing 84 pills.

"I believe if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here today," he said. "They say when you’re in as bad shape as I was, you can’t hear anybody talking to you. But I heard Becky, because she didn’t just say, `If you can hear me squeeze my hand,’ she screamed it in my ear and she pulled for me every day.

"Becky saved my life and I came up here and voted to pull the plug. I didn’t fight enough for her. I know I couldn’t do the surgery, but I also know if it were the other way around and they were going to reach for my plug she would have cut their damn hand off," Charles Huff said.

"The doctor walked in, pulled the plug and walked out. Me, my sister and my brother watched her take her last breath. When all them lines went straight on the machine I was bent over her feet crying."

Charles Huff said Rebecca was abused by Noblett. He said the last time he saw her was in October.

"When I hugged Becky back in October she said, `Charlie, I’ll never see you again.’ She was talking about them being on the run because he was wanted, not because she thought she would be killed."

Charles Huff said he had tried to get Rebecca to leave Noblett since they first started dating.

"She honestly felt he loved her and he ran off and left her as she sat there with a bullet in her head," he said. "All she ever wanted was to be loved and I don’t see where that’s a crime."

Police said they don’t know where Noblett is. Charles Huff said Noblett told the couple they were staying with he was going to California. But Charles Huff said he believes Noblett is headed to Oregon to stay with his father.

"I saw him hitting Becky one time and I went after him and knocked the windows out of his truck. Becky came after me and said, `Charlie, please don’t, I love him …’ What was I supposed to do then? I felt this small. She followed John until he killed her."

Charles Huff said the last time he heard his sister’s voice was about six weeks ago when she called home and told the family Noblett had just beat her and 2-year-old Jeffrey. Up until then, the family believed they were still in Albuquerque, N.M.

"We sent bus tickets for her and the kids because we were afraid to send cash. Trailways sent us a check back in the mail about 30 days later. John wouldn’t let her pick it up."

Charles Huff said Rebecca was well liked by many people in Fort Worth, Texas. Jars have been set up in stores and restaurants throughout the city to collect money for her children.

"She was a good mother. She’s said it a million times. `A million people out there might not like me but I got two kids who think I can’t go wrong."’

Charles Huff said his mother has been awarded custody of the children. They were expected to pick the children up from Child Haven this week.