Coroner identifies body found off Mt. Rose Highway as missing Placer County woman (2024)

The Washoe County coroner has identified the body found off of Mt. Rose Highway last week.

The medical examiner says 48-year-oldPatricia Portella-Wright of Kings Beach died on scene of "multiple sharp force injuries."

The suspect in the case, Brent Clifford is facing a murder charge in her death in Placer County and is also alleged to have killed a man on Keystone Avenue.

Update, August 16:

According to court documents, Brent Clifford was formally charged with two counts of identity theft and one count of fraudulent use of access card.

Clifford allegedly obtained personal identifying information of Patricia Portella-Wright without her consent and attempted to use her access card.

Court documents say the value of all money, goods and other things of value exceeded $950.

Clifford is expected to be in court again on Monday for an arraignment.

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AUGUST 15, 5:15 P.M. UPDATE:

The Reno Police Department has confirmed that the Placer County Sheriff's Office has located the body of missing womanPatricia Portella-Wright.

Previously authorities had said only that they believed the body was that of the missing woman.

The release from RPD also said that the person of interest in a homicide on Keystone Avenue, Brent Clifford, is no longer a person of interest and is now the suspect.

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AUGUST 15, 2:30 P.M. UPDATE:

Authorities say the body believed to be a missing woman from Placer County has been found off Mt. Rose Highway.

Placer County deputies say they believe the body of Patricia Portella-Wright's body was found off Mt. Rose Highway in Washoe County.

Portella-Wright was reported missing on Friday, August 9th. She was last seen last Sunday morning.

Placer County says they found a body "down a steep embankment" off of Mt. Rose Highway.

Mt. Rose Highway was temporarily closed between Douglas Fir and Sunset Ridge due to police activity.

In a Facebook post, the Placer County Sheriff's Office says,"During our investigation we identified her boyfriend, Brent Clifford, as a person of interest in her disappearance. On Wednesday, August 14th 2024 Clifford was arrested in Portola. He has been booked into the Placer County jail on a murder charge."

Placer County deputies say they also found a red Chevy Blazer wanted in connection with a Reno homicide case that Clifford is named a suspect where he's accused of shooting 68-year-old William F. Andrews in the head on Keystone Avenue last Sunday.

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Reno Police now say a woman missing from Placer County and a weekend homicide on Keystone Avenue are now connected.

Reno Police announced the alleged connection to the public on Wednesday.

Police say the person of interest, Brent Clifford was believed to be dating a woman who went missing from Kings Beach on August 9th, where he drove to Keystone Avenue in Reno.

A man's body later was found in that area, who was later identified as 68-year-old William F. Andrews of Reno.

Police say Clifford was seen driving Andrews' 2003 Chevrolet Blazer with Nevada License Plate PHF8942 (handicap plate). There is a square white sticker just to the right of the rear license plate.

The Blazer was last seen westbound on Highway 70 from US 395 Hallelujah Junction.

During the course of the investigation, it has been determined that Brent was the last person to be seen with Patricia Portella-Wright (the missing person out of Placer County).

Clifford is a person of interest for Placer County regarding the disappearance of Patricia.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

Mt. Rose Highway is currently closed between Douglas Fir and Sunset Ridge due to police activity.

Avoid the area.

NDOT says to use an alternate route if you're traveling between south Reno and north Lake Tahoe.

We've learned that both the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and Placer County Sheriff's Office are on scene.

We're sending a crew to that area right now to get more details.

If you have any information, you can call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.

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The Reno Police Department and Placer County Sheriff's Office are asking for your help finding a missing person.

48-year-old Patricia Portella-Wright was last seen in Reno on August 9.

She is 5'9" and 125 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes.

She may be associated with a red 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer with a handicapped Nevada license plate PHF8942. There is a square white sticker to the right of the license plate on the back of the car.

If you have any information that can help, contact the Reno Police Department at (775) 334-2677.

You can also stay anonymous by calling Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900.