Kings Beach man arrested as suspect in Reno murder; disappearance of girlfriend

PLACER COUNTY, Calif. - Just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, Brent Clifford of Kings Beach, Calif. was taken into custody in Portola by investigators working on both the murder of a man in Reno and the case of a missing woman from Kings Beach.

Clifford had been spotted in Portola by investigators and taken into custody with the help of the Plumas County Sheriff's Office and is being held on an active warrant.

The vehicle Clifford was believed to be driving, a red 2003 Blazer, had been spotted westbound on Highway 70 from Highway 395 at Hallelujah Junction which led investigators in the direction of Portola. That vehicle was located near the arrest location.

On Friday, August 9, 48-year-old Patricia Portella-Wright of Kings Beach was reported missing. She was last seen on the morning of Sunday, August 4. Portella-Wright was living with her boyfriend at the time, the 55-year-old Clifford. The Placer County Sheriff's Office said they believe she may have last been seen with Clifford, making him a person of interest in her disappearance.

According to the Reno Police Department, Clifford is a person of interest in a Reno homicide. The victim, 68-year-old William F Andrews of Reno. was discovered on the morning of Sunday, August 11 with a gunshot wound to the head. The red 2003 Chevrolet Blazer that belonged to the homicide victim was found in the same area where Clifford was arrested in Portola.

Patricia is described as a white female with blonde hair and brown eyes, approximately 5'9" and 125 lbs.

If you have any information regarding her recent whereabouts, please call the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 889-7830.