UPDATE, 11:45 a.m.: From HCSO

Will Mattingly and Wyatt Whitlow

A Ramey Warrant has been issued for the arrests of William Orsina Mattingly, age 25, and Wyatt Waylon Whitlow, age 35, in connection to the April 23, 2021, robbery in Garberville.

Mattingly and Whitlow were arrested on April 24, 2021, in Ukiah, following a routine traffic stop by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. During that traffic stop, Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies located items believed to be stolen from the Garberville residence.

Today, April 26, 2021, Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant on the vehicle associated with the suspects, locating additional items linking the two to the crime.

Mattingly and Whitlow are being held at the Mendocino County Correctional Facility and will be transported to Humboldt County following adjudication of their Mendocino County cases. Mattingly and Whitlow will be booked into Humboldt County on a Ramey Warrant for robbery (PC 211) and kidnapping (PC 211).

# # #


Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On April 23, 2021, at about 11:16 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 3200 block of Sprowel Creek Road near Garberville for the report of an armed robbery.

Deputies arrived at the residence but were unable to locate any persons on scene. While investigating further, deputies learned the victim had escaped to a nearby park during the robbery and was waiting there for deputy contact.

Deputies contacted the victim at Tooby Memorial Park. The victim told deputies that at about 11 a.m., he was outside his residence when two male suspects approached him holding firearms. The suspects reportedly forced the victim to the ground, handcuffed him and then forced him inside the residence. While inside the residence the suspects stole multiple items of value out of the victim’s safe. During the incident, the victim was physically assaulted and was struck in the head with a firearm, causing the firearm to discharge inside the residence. The victim was not shot during this altercation.

The victim told deputies that he was able to escape the residence, fleeing across the Eel River and onto Camp Kimtu Road, where he was provided transportation to the park by a passerby. Following deputy contact, the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The suspects are described as two white male adults in their mid-20’s to early-30’s, approximately 6 feet tall with an average build. The suspects were reportedly wearing blue jeans, flat-billed hats and face masks.

The suspects’ vehicle is described as a silver 2015 Honda Accord with an unknown license plate number.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.