Body of missing woman Patricia Portella-Wright likely found in Nevada

A California man arrested Wednesday now faces a murder charge after authorities found a body they believe belongs to his girlfriend along a Nevada highway.

Brent Clifford, 55, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murdering 48-year-old Patricia Portella-Wright, the… The Placer County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

Investigators found the body of a woman after using a drone to fly over a steep embankment near Mount Rose Highway in Washoe County, the sheriff’s office said. The local coroner has yet to formally make an identification.

Portella-Wright was last seen on August 4 and was believed to have been with Clifford at the time of her disappearance. said in previous updates. Five days later she was reported missing after failing to show up for work.

Authorities in Nevada said Clifford traveled from California’s Lake Tahoe area to Reno on August 9, the same day Portella-Wright was reported missing, according to reports from the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The placer county sheriff revealed in a press release Wednesday that Clifford is also considered a person of interest in the murder of a Nevada man found dead in Reno on August 11.

William F. Andrews, 68, died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Gazette-Journal. It is unclear what kind of relationship he may have had with Clifford before his death.

On Wednesday, Clifford was taken into custody after authorities located him in Portola, California, driving a red 2003 Chevrolet Blazer that police said belonged to Andrews.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Dave Smith told reporters Thursday that Clifford had also been charged with identity theft.

Court records show Clifford was charged Wednesday with two felony counts of unlawful use of personally identifying information, as well as one count of intent to defraud relating to the use of an access card or access card information.

According to reports from ABC affiliate KXTVClifford is the son of Doug Clifford, the founder and drummer of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Clifford was charged with identity theft on Friday morning. It is unclear whether he has an attorney representing him.

Dive deep into true crime cases and keep up with the latest headlines with JS’s Suspicious Circumstances newsletter. Sign up here.