Missing Stagecoach woman found alive

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

A Stagecoach woman who was missing since Monday night was found injured Wednesday evening and was transported to a Reno hospital.

Nike “Toni” Riess was found conscious and alert at the bottom of a ravine near Apache Drive in Stagecoach. However, she was suffering from injuries related to exposure and was transported by Care Flight to Renown Regional Medical Center.

Riess, 30, was reported missing Tuesday morning. It was reported to the Lyon County Sheriff’s office that Riess was last seen and/or heard from on the evening of April 17.

Shortly after receiving the initial report, Lyon County Search and Rescue and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Technology Team were activated and commenced a search of the area surrounding Riess’ home. At approximately 1:15 P.M. on April 18, 2023, Riess’ vehicle was located, abandoned on a dirt road, approximately 2 miles from her home. The vehicle had sustained what was described as “heavy damage.” Inside the vehicle, Lyon County Search and Rescue discovered Riess’ dog and some of her personal belongings. Lyon County Search and Rescue ground operations were shut down at dusk; however, the LCSO Technology Team continued an aerial search of the area through the night, utilizing LCSO Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with night vision and thermal sensor technology.

Lyon County Search and Rescue resumed ground operations Wednesday morning in an effort to locate her. Investigators with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office obtained surveillance footage of Riess leaving the Target located on Jack’s Valley Road in Douglas County.

Investigators said Riess left her home with two dogs. One dog was found in Riess’ vehicle, the other was found at a convenience store in the Stagecoach area. Investigators also tracked Riess’ movements after leaving Target and confirmed she was seen in the Stagecoach area as late as 10:30 p.m. on April 17, and spoke with at least one person, telling them she was looking for one of her dogs.