Reward offered in Nevada slaying

MINDEN - A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of a Minnesota man whose body was found in a remote area of Nevada's Douglas County.

Francisco Alejandro Lopez-Gonzalez, 40, flew from Minnesota to Reno to meet with an acquaintance, Manuel Acevedo, concerning a debt, Douglas County sheriff's Sgt. Jim Halsey said.

Phone records confirm that he arrived in Reno on May 28, 2011. Lopez-Gonzalez was scheduled to return home the next day, but he never boarded his flight. Shortly thereafter, he was reported missing by his family.

Skeletal remains found Feb. 22 in a shallow grave by a backcountry traveler in northeast Douglas County were later identified as those of Lopez-Gonzalez. An autopsy confirmed that Lopez-Gonzalez had been killed, and his death has been ruled a homicide.

Halsey said Acevedo, also known as El Ranas, consented to an interview and acknowledged he met with Lopez-Gonzalez but denied knowing where he went afterward. He denied involvement in Lopez-Gonzalez' death.

Two days later Acevedo, who is an American citizen, fled to Mexico, where he has been seen in the Tijuana area, Halsey said.

The sheriff's office said Acevedo phoned investigators a few times and promised to return for a second interview, but failed to show up and has ceased contact with investigators.

Halsey said Acevedo's wife, Alondra Acevedo, who also goes by the name of Alondra Martinez-Diaz, was initially cooperative but recently moved from her residence in Reno and canceled her cellphone service.