Boyfriend of missing Kings Beach woman and person of interest in Reno homicide arrested

RENO – The boyfriend of a missing Tahoe-area woman and a person of interest in a Reno homicide was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon, authorities say.

Kings Beach resident Patricia Portella-Wright was last heard from on Aug. 3, but didn't get reported missing until Aug. 9 when she didn't show up for work.

On Wednesday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office announced that they have learned that Portillo-Wright may have last been seen with her boyfriend Brent Clifford. Reno police have also named Clifford as a person of interest in a homicide in their jurisdiction, the sheriff's office says.

But by Wednesday afternoon, the sheriff's office said Clifford was taken into custody in the Portola area of Plumas County. However, Portillo-Wright is still missing.

Detectives said Clifford was driving Portella-Wright's vehicle, a red 2003 Chevy Blazer, that was last seen heading westbound on Highway 70 from US-395 at Hallelujah Junction on the California side, which led deputies toward Portola. 

The sheriff's office said the two lived together and Clifford is now being called a person of interest in her disappearance. 

"For her to just vanish just makes no sense," a friend of Portillo-Wright said. 

On Sunday, Aug. 11, a week after Portillo-Wright was last seen, 68-year-old William Andrews was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound. 

"There's no connection between Patricia and Mr. Andrews other than Brent. We believe Brent was in a dating relationship with Patricia and friends with Mr. Andrews," a spokesperson at the Reno Police Department said.

Meanwhile, her friend hopes the recent arrest will lead to answers.

"I hope he knows," she said. "The whole community is praying for her safe return home."

People with information on Portella-Wright's disappearance are urged to call the Placer County Sheriff's Office.

In:
• Reno
• Lake Tahoe
• Missing Persons