A 35-year-old Reno man is behind bars after a woman told police she was kidnapped, had her wrists zip tied and then managed a desperate escape near Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. According to authorities, the woman bolted from the suspect’s vehicle with help from a passerby, was taken into the hospital for treatment and sparked a fast-moving investigation that ended with an arrest about 34 hours later. Detectives later found the suspect and his vehicle, and he was booked into the Washoe County detention center on kidnapping-related charges.
Police: Victim Escaped After Being Bound
In a Facebook update, the Reno Police Department said officers were called to Saint Mary’s early Sunday after hospital staff reported suspicious circumstances involving an adult woman. Detectives say the woman reported that she had been kidnapped and that her wrists were secured with zip ties before she was able to get away from the vehicle with help from a passerby.
Reno police said their Robbery-Homicide detectives took over the case and circulated photos of the suspect and his vehicle as part of the investigation, signaling early on that they believed the incident might not be isolated.
Suspect And Vehicle Located Within 34 Hours
According to KOLO, detectives tracked down the suspect’s vehicle on Monday and arrested 35-year-old Diego Ortega Noria in roughly 34 hours from the initial report. KOLO reports that Noria was booked into the Washoe County detention center on charges of second-degree kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Investigators have not publicly discussed a possible motive, and officials have not said whether more charges could follow as they continue to piece together what happened before the woman’s escape.
Police Asking The Public For Tips
The Reno Police Department is asking anyone who recognizes the man or the vehicle described in their post to call the non-emergency line at 775-334-2677. Anonymous information can be provided to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.
In their public appeal, detectives said they believe the suspect may have targeted other potential victims and urged anyone with video footage or additional details to come forward. Community tips are expected to play a big role as investigators sift through evidence and interview witnesses.
What Happens Next
Local prosecutors will review the case and decide what formal charges to file once detectives finish their reports and forward the investigation, KOLO reports. Reno’s Robbery-Homicide Unit plans to keep canvassing and pursuing leads in the coming days and is asking anyone with potentially relevant footage or eyewitness information to reach out.
