RENO, NV — A Reno man already under scrutiny in a stalking case is now facing additional charges after police say he continued contacting two victims while related court proceedings were still underway.
Reno police say the reported messages did not stop after the original case began. Investigators say the victims received threatening texts from unknown numbers, along with messages and friend requests from both known and unknown social media accounts over several months.
Detectives say their investigation pointed to Keaton Busch as the person behind the continued contact. Police allege he used internet-generated phone numbers and fake social media accounts to keep reaching out and to continue stalking-related behavior.
Police say threatening texts and social media contact stretched on for months
The alleged pattern, according to Reno police, went on over the course of several months. Victims reported repeated contact from numbers they did not recognize, plus online messages that kept arriving from accounts they could not clearly trace.
Police say the contact was not limited to one channel. In addition to text messages, the victims reported social media friend requests and messages from multiple accounts, some known and some unknown.
That mix of phone-based and online contact is part of what investigators say made the case more serious. Detectives describe the behavior as continuing even while the legal process tied to the original allegations was moving forward.
Investigators linked Keaton Busch to the alleged continued contact
During the investigation, detectives say they developed information suggesting Busch may have been involved in the ongoing contact. Police allege he used internet-generated phone numbers and fake social media profiles to stay in touch with the victims without being directly identified.
The department says the case expanded as investigators connected those messages to stalking-related conduct. Officials did not say in the provided details what specific evidence led them to Busch, but they say the information was enough to support new charges.
Busch is the person police identified in the case, and the additional allegations are tied to the claim that the contact did not end when the earlier matter reached court.
Additional counts include aggravated stalking and order violations
Police say the new charges include two counts of aggravated stalking. Busch is also accused of violating a Temporary Protection Order and violating conditions of release.
The additional counts follow the earlier stalking case that Reno police say involved a brief relationship and a prolonged pattern of unwanted contact. The newer allegations center on continued communication after that case was already active.
Those charges add to the legal pressure Busch now faces as the investigation continues. Police have not said whether more charges are possible, but they describe the matter as still open.
Original case described tarot cards, calls and items left near the victim
Reno police say the original case began in November 2025 after a victim reported ongoing stalking behavior following a brief relationship with Busch. After the relationship ended, the victim reported unwanted phone calls and messages from unknown numbers.
Police also say the victim saw items including tarot cards left on the car and at other locations. Investigators say that conduct continued over several months and was part of the broader stalking complaint.
Detectives later said they developed information suggesting Busch may have coordinated the acts, including the use of multiple phone numbers and social media accounts. Police also say a second female suspect may have helped arrange for items to be left in different places.
Busch was taken into custody without incident at his workplace
Police say Busch was taken into custody without incident at his workplace on Aug. 3, 2026. The arrest came after detectives gathered information during the investigation and moved to file the additional counts.
Reno police say the victim had obtained a stalking and harassment protection order during the investigation. Detectives later allege Busch provided fake or misleading information that allowed him to get the order dismissed.
That claim is now part of the broader case against him, along with the accusations that he used false identities and generated numbers to keep contacting the victims.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
