Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said today that detectives have confirmed the death of Desiree Bragg, 19. The young woman died late Wednesday afternoon at Renown Medical Center in Reno. An autopsy is being performed today at the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office. The full results of the autopsy report are not expected for approximately 4 weeks.
Bragg was hit by a car driven by Leonardo Cardoza in the driveway of her mother’s home. The force of the car pinned her into the wall of the home causing severe injuries. Witnesses reported that Cardoza fled the area in his van, but returned after crashing his vehicle through the fence of a nearby residence.
He was treated at Renown Medical Center and then booked into the Carson City Jail on the charges of suspicion of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries, and DUI. Once the details of the investigation are submitted to the District Attorney, a criminal complaint may be issued from his office. Cardoza remains in custody at this time.
So far there has not been a motive established for the incident and no known relationship between the victim and the suspect has been determined. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division at (775) 887-2500.