PREVIOUSLY: Murder on Murder Mountain? Sheriff Investigating Homicide in Rancho Sequoia Area

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From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Thursday June 27, 2013 at about 11:30 PM, Officers from the Willits Police Department located the black Jeep Cherokee that was believed to be operated by suspect Anthony Lane. The Willits Police Officers had received a “be on the lookout” broadcast issued by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for this homicide investigation. The vehicle was found in the parking lot of a motel in the Willits area.

On June 28, 2013 at about 12:30 AM, officers of the Willits Police Department, with the assistance of deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, located Lane in one of the rooms of the hotel. Lane was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Humboldt County Line, where deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Lane. Lane was booked into the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for suspicion of murder and possession of a stolen vehicle (the black Jeep Cherokee).

At this time the motive for the crime is being investigated. There does not appear at this time to be a connection with this homicide to the earlier marijuana cultivation investigation and arrests that took place in the same area. The homicide does not appear to be a home invasion, marijuana related or in association with the Garret Rodriguez missing person investigation.

The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office is still in the process of notification of family members of the victim of this suspected homicide. For that reason, the name of the victim is not being released. An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday June 29, 2013 and the cause of death is not being released until after the autopsy is concluded and it will not jeopardize the investigation. The lead investigator is Detective Franco (707) 268-3644 or (707) 445-7251, anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to telephone Detective Franco at the listed numbers.