Police recreate possible crime scene in probe of missing man

By Tiffany Gibson

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 | 3:26 p.m.

Metro Police are searching for a 56-year-old man reported missing Dec. 8, 2009, and detectives are asking for the public’s help in developing leads. Investigators who were working the disappearance as a missing persons case now believe foul play might be involved.

Dragan Rnic was last seen Dec. 1 driving a white 2003 Honda Odyssey minivan with no license plates. Police said Rnic’s car was found abandoned the next day one mile east of Mountain Springs on the north side of State Road 160 near mile marker 20.

Police on Tuesday recreated the possible crime scene on State Route 160. Metro Police Sgt. Tom Wagner said officers want to encourage citizens to come forward with any information.

Wagner said Rnic was driving to Las Vegas from Pahrump when he lost control of the car, causing the vehicle to enter the left ditch and turn sideways. Rain or icy conditions could have been factors in the one-car crash, police said.

Police put red paint marks in the ditch and on the road where Rnic had lost control of the car.

“The key to this case is that someone driving might have got the person out of the car,” Wagner said. “To get to Pahrump or Las Vegas is a long way to walk.”

Metro Police spokesman Bill Cassell said it's likely someone saw Rnic spin out and stopped to check on him.

“Someone on this road possesses knowledge they don’t know they possess,” Cassell said.

Authorities are reviewing Rnic’s cell phone records and have spoken to several family members.

Rnic is described as 6-foot-1 with a medium complexion, green eyes, and black and gray hair. He is of Yugoslavian descent.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Metro's Missing Persons Detail at (702) 828-2907 or Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.