August 12, 2026

Couple may have been victims of murder-suicide

Jennifer Ortega, 27, and Jose Macias, 22, were found dead Thursday night in their home at a Kietzke Lane trailer park.

Ortega is the daughter of Reno Public Works Director Steve Varela.

Both victims suffered stab wounds during a fight Sunday night, Deputy Police Chief Jim Weston said.

"We're still piecing the parts together," Weston said. "One scenario is there was one knife and a major fight between the two of them. We believe it was just those two people involved in the conflict."

The two had severed their relationship about a week before the argument, Weston said.

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