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Friday, April 24, 2026 at 3:34 AM

Body found in Churchill County identified as missing Lyon County woman

Body found in Churchill County identified as missing Lyon County woman

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter


A body found May 22 in Churchill County has been identified as a woman missing from Lyon County.


According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, investigators searching for 25-year old Sara Arlene Filiatraut found the body in a remote area of Churchill County on May 22. The body was positively identified by the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

LCSO had been searching for Filiatraut since April 15, after receiving a report of a missing person filed in Michigan for Filiatraut. Her family reported her last known location was in Lyon County on March 21.

The LCSO Investigations Division immediately began investigating the case and made locating Filiatraut their top priority. Over the course of approximately five weeks, detectives followed up on numerous investigative leads while hoping to find Filiatraut alive and well

On May 22, 2024, working on information they gained during the investigation, detectives from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, along with detectives from the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and members of Churchill County Search and Rescue, began a search in a remote area of Churchill County, where they found the body.

Because the remains were located in Churchill County, the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office began a death investigation. Final autopsy findings are currently pending; however, law enforcement is investigating this case as a homicide.

Both the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and Churchill County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Investigation Section, are investigating this case.

LCSO said in an effort to protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time.

Anyone who has information regarding the above investigation may contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division by email at [email protected] or by phone at (775) 463-6600, in reference to Case Number 24LY01479.

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Comment author: Jack & Nancy CookComment text: Wonderful man. Created a precious family with Linda. Will always respect and admire his contribution to teaching at FHS.Comment publication date: 4/18/26, 10:27 AMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: JeffDickersonComment text: Very well reported, even though our motion was denied.Comment publication date: 4/15/26, 11:05 AMComment source: Judge allows Fernley City Council to proceed with corrective agenda item in Lau expulsion caseComment author: Todd fossumComment text: Hi my name is todd fossum i'm clarence's stepson, I was wondering if he had any siblings. I think he said he had a sister that just survived cancer. If she can get ahold of me or any buddy, my number is 916. 3 4 3 1 1 7 7.Thank you have a blessed dayComment publication date: 1/16/26, 4:33 PMComment source: Clarence L Shields C Comment author: Carl HagenComment text: So just curious, what is the point of a franchise agreement if it is not exclusive?Comment publication date: 12/15/25, 4:18 PMComment source: Council approves non-exclusive franchise agreement for waste collection C Comment author: Christine S GleasonComment text: In the first photo, the woman in the middle, wearing the black shirt, is SaraH Jean Gleason. She is not an FHS Leadership Student but is the person who is responsible (with the help of her father) for starting the Fernley Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2011. She attended this year's dinner while home from Arizona State University, where she is working on her PhD.Comment publication date: 12/8/25, 8:52 PMComment source: About 400 meals served at Community Thanksgiving DinnerComment author: SusanComment text: RIP Sean. Prayers to the family, sorry for your loss.Comment publication date: 9/25/25, 1:11 PMComment source: Sean Everett Turner
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