Woman arrested in New Year's Day murder investigation; bystander sought

Reno Gazette Journal

A woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the case of a homicide resulting from a fight New Year’s Day.

About 4 p.m. Jan. 1, Sparks patrol officers responded to Glendale Avenue and Rock Boulevard after reports of a fight.

“When they arrived, suspect Suzanne Ehlers was sitting on the chest and neck area of the unresponsive victim Kim Rohr,” Sparks police said in a news release.

Rohr was transported to a hospital where she was declared dead nine days later.

Ehlers was released the night of the fight “in order for detectives to complete a more thorough investigation,” the news release said.

Police said that after further investigation, they determined “Ehlers was the primary physical aggressor and ultimately choked Rohr and sat on her chest for a prolonged period of time until Rohr ultimately died of asphyxiation.”

Police also released a photo of a bystander at the bus stop. He had no involvement in what happened, but detectives are requesting assistance in identifying him in order to learn what he may have witnessed.

This man is sought by Sparks police in a murder investigation. He was not involved, they said, but he may have witnessed what led to a fight ending in death.

Anyone with information is asked to the Sparks police non-emergency dispatch number at 775-353-2231 or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900.