On a Thursday afternoon in Reno, Nevada, a somber discovery was made that brought the life of Rachel Tams, a 45-year-old Caucasian female, to a tragic end. On February 9, 2017, her body was found inside a white sedan parked near a power plant at the end of Rio Wrangler Road. The authorities were initially alerted to the scene by a passerby who reported suspicious activity in the area.
Inside the vehicle with Tams was 24-year-old Alex Muratalla of Sparks, Nevada.
The investigation conducted by the Reno Police Department concluded that Muratalla shot Tams before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide. Autopsies were performed the following day to officially determine the causes of death. Law enforcement officials indicated that their investigation uncovered evidence suggesting that Tams and Muratalla had previously discussed taking their own lives together. The police found no indication that Tams was an unwilling participant in the tragic events that unfolded.
Initial reports of a man with a "long gun" walking away from the vehicle prompted a SWAT team response to secure the area. However, it was quickly determined that this individual was a nearby resident who was target shooting in the hills and had no involvement in the incident. With the conclusion of their investigation, the Reno Police Department confirmed that there were no outstanding suspects in the case.
