Lyon County seeks help in finding fugitive

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in locating Santiago “Sonny” Fernandez, 45, of Silver Springs.

On July 17, the Third District Court issued an arrest warrant for Fernandez after he didn’t appear for his arraignment in connection with the shooting death of Robert Buchanan. Fernandez was out of custody on a $500,000 bond.

On July 12, the Sheriff’s Office issued an initial release asking for assistance in locating Fernandez. The Sheriff’s Office has done additional investigation and processed a reported crime scene that appears to have been staged. Investigators believe the scene and Fernandez’s disappearance and failure to appear in court is an attempt by Fernandez to avoid the criminal proceedings in the Third District Court.

Fernandez has family ties to several communities in Northern Nevada. In addition, he was born in Mexico and may have fled the United States to avoid prosecution.

The Sheriff’s Office is working with the Department of Homeland Security in an attempt to locate him if he’s out of the country.

Fernandez is a Hispanic male, 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighing 195 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He has an anchor tattoo on his right forearm.

Officials are considering the fugitive armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 775-577-5207 and reference case No. 17LY02525, or contact Secret Witness at 775-322-4900 or www.secretwitness.com.