Man found guilty of 2023 Omaha hotel murder

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Man charged with murder Woman found dead in Omaha hotel in 2023 was found guilty on Tuesday.

Daniel NickelsThe 51-year-old man was found guilty of first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Nickels faces life in prison without parole plus an additional 50 years.

Nickels will be sentenced on December 20.

Daniel Nickels(Douglas County Corrections)

Nickels was charged with the murder of Esmeralda Vargas, who was shot and killed on the morning of Dec. 4 at the Comfort Inn near 70th and Grover streets.

Omaha police said she was found in a third-floor hallway near an elevator with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Nickels was arrested in Missouri. later that day.

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