Placer County woman still missing after boyfriend’s arrest in connection to Reno homicide

Authorities are requesting the public’s help to find a Placer County woman who was reported missing last week. She was last seen with her boyfriend, a man who deputies say was arrested after he was earlier described as a “person of interest” in a homicide out of Reno.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said Patricia Portella-Wright, 48, was last seen on Friday. Her last known contact happened Aug. 3.

Portella-Wright, a Kings Beach resident, is believed to be in Reno after she failed to show up to work on Friday. She is described as a 5-foot-9, 125-pound woman with blonde hair and brown eyes, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Her boyfriend, Brent Clifford, 55, of Kings Beach, is sought by the Reno Police Department after investigators said he’s linked to a homicide. A male victim was found dead early Sunday in Reno, deputies said.

The circumstances surrounding the homicide are unclear. A call placed to the Reno Police Department was not immediately returned.

Deputies said Clifford was driving the homicide victim’s car, a 2003 Chevrolet Blazer with a Nevada license plate. There is a square white sticker placed on the license plate’s right side.

The vehicle was last seen going westbound on Highway 70 from Highway 395 at Hallelujah Junction, the Sheriff’s Office said. That tip led deputies to find him in Portola, Plumas County and placed into custody.

Portella-Wright still hasn’t been found, deputies said.

Residents are asked to stay away from Clifford and to “call 911 immediately” if he is seen.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 530-889-7830.