Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Aug. 21 at about 6:47 p.m. Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 3800  block of China Creek Rd. in Briceland  for the report of deceased individual.

 

Sheriff deputies arrived on scene and met with the Briceland Volunteer Fire Battalion Chief who reported an 82-year-old male appeared to have fallen off a ladder while he was working on his house and was located deceased approximately 50 feet below near a creek bed.  

 

Deputies spoke with a witness who told them he had been working on the victim’s water lines and had not heard from the victim for approximately three days, so he stopped by the victim’s residence to check on him and was unable to contact him.  The witness then contacted the Briceland Volunteer Fire Department and explained the circumstances to them. The fire department responded to the residence and a search of the exterior property revealed a ladder laying up against the house, and the victim was located approximately 50 feet down the embankment near a creek bed.

 

The Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue team responded and assisted the Briceland Volunteer Fire Department in recovering the deceased victim.  The victim was released to the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. 

 

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.