The 49-year-old victim was beaten, kicked, stripped naked and left to crawl for help.

Suspects In Vicious Murder Of Idaho Gay Man Held Without Bail, Could Face Death Penalty

Four suspects are being held without bail for their part in a brutal murder of a gay man in Idaho last month.

On April 29, 49-year-old Steven Nelson was found naked and badly beaten, wandering the streets of Gotts Point, about 25 miles from Boise.

Boise State University

He had responded to an ad on Backpage—placed by 22-year-old Kelly Schneider—ostensibly looking for a sexual encounter. But when he and Nelson arrived at a nearby lake, Schneider’s accomplices were waiting in ambush.

Nelson was able to provide some details to police, but died later at a hospital in Boise, the cause of death listed as homicide by cardiac arrest. The coroner reported he had “broken ribs and bleeding from the ear,” among other injuries.

Schneider reportedly hit Nelson in the face and kick him with steel-toed boots “approximately 30 times” as his victim begged for his life.

Schneider, 22, Kevin Tracy, 21, Jayson Woods, 28, and Daniel Henkel, 23, all stand accused of first-degree murder and robbery—with Schneider also facing grand theft charges.

When questioned by police, Tracy admitted that they had committed similar crimes before.

Authorities found the group, in fact, after being tipped off by a local woman, who told the sheriff’s office Woods “[had] driven her around and forced her to perform sex acts with random men for money,” right before the encounter with Nelson.

Prosecutors asked that all four men be held without bail, and said that the nature of their crimes could result in the state pursuing the death penalty.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue says the case is a “top priority” and his department is hoping to find more victims.

“I don’t want the victims out there being concerned with coming forward because they are fearful of prosecution for solicitation of sex,” he added. “We are centered on the individuals who are victimizing those people who are on the internet making those solicitations.”

The FBI participated in the investigation but has not announced whether any federal charges will be filed. (Idaho’s hate-crimes law does not include crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation.)

Nelson had completed his bachelor’s degree in PR at the University of Idaho several years ago and was hoping to manage contributions for a political campaign.

“He knew the value of education, perhaps more than an 18-year-old freshman would,” professor Kenton Bird told the Statesman. “He was among the few students who would sit at the front of the classroom, who would ask questions, who would engage with the guest speakers after they had finished.”