Man suspected of killing girlfriend

A murder warrant was issued Wednesday for a Virginia City Highlands man suspected of killing his live-in girlfriend.

The criminal complaint charging Gary Duane Brown, 52, with first-degree murder was signed at 4:30 p.m. by a Storey County judge.

Investigators believe Brown shot and killed Linda Ziegler, 51, then fled the area. Deputies were called to the couple's Silverado Road home on Tuesday about 1 p.m. after receiving a phone call from someone telling them to check on the retired San Francisco policewoman, said Lt. Mike Allen of the Nevada Department of Public Safety Investigation Division. She was discovered dead with a gunshot wound to the head, according to court documents.

Allen declined to reveal why police believe Brown is the shooter, but said, "We've developed enough information for the issuance of an arrest warrant."

Brown is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. He is believed to be driving a silver/grey 1989 Toyota four-wheel-drive pickup with Nevada license plates 682 NVN. Reports indicate Brown was in the Reno area Tuesday.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Brown or information about the murder is asked to contact Lt. Mike Allen at the Nevada Department of Public Safety's Investigation Division at 684-7430.

Storey County deputies patrolled the mountain neighborhood Wednesday, frequently passing by the gray two-story home sealed with evidence tape on its windows and doors. A horse and donkey were in a pen in the rear yard, and guinea pigs, turtles and other pets were inside the well-kept home.

Storey County Chief Deputy Roger Hartley said Ziegler's sister was coming from the Bay area to tend to her things.