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A possible murder charge for the man accused of attacking a 75-year-old in the Arcata Community Forest will depend on the victim’s autopsy results.

Bill Spenceley, a longtime director of a local nonprofit who was found with serious head injuries on January 30 while hiking in the woods, died this month.

Arcata resident Shawn Kolpak is charged with attempted murder and mayhem for the attack, and may now face a murder charge.

In court today, prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees said that an autopsy was performed for Mr. Spenceley, and final results are expected in two to three months. He said it’s believed his death is related to the injuries.

His cause of death will determine whether prosecutors can pursue murder charges.

Updates on a GoFundMe for Spenceley have chronicled the man grappling with extensive injuries, and more recently the week he was able to spend with loved ones at home before dying on Oct. 5.

William “Bill” Spenceley. Photo via GoFundMe.

Once his official cause of death is released, attorneys will need to determine if they will hold a second preliminary hearing, if the results support a murder charge. Kolpak’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender David Celli, said he would need time to review medical records.

Kolpak was held to answer to the attempted murder charges, after a preliminary hearing was held in March. Kolpak has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Doctors who initially treated Spenceley believed his injuries, which were concentrated on his head, were caused by blunt force, according to testimony from police. Spenceley had no defensive wounds.

The prosecution argued that Kolpak was obsessed with Spenceley for moving sticks off trails and brutally beat him with his fist, citing a hand injury and incriminating statements he made to police.

The defense argued there wasn’t enough evidence linking Kolpak to the attack, with no witness confirming Kolpak was there and a lack of a confirmed weapon.

The judge acknowledged there was room for other possibilities and a weak spot in the evidence on how exactly the man was attacked. Still, he allowed the case to continue.

Kolpak faces additional charges for a separate incident just four months earlier, where he’s accused of attacking a different man in the head with an exercise weight.

The hearing today was to set a date for Kolpak’s trial, but attorneys agreed they’d need time for the autopsy results to come. The next hearing was set for January 13.

Plea Deal Proposed for Suspect Accused of Shooting Willow Creek Man At Abandoned Grow

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A plea deal was offered by prosecutors for a man who is accused of murdering a former friend at a remote abandoned grow along State Route 299.

Christopher Diven is accused of fatally shooting Vincent McKenney in October 2025.

Victim Vincent “Vince” McKenney. | Photo via Facebook.

In the proposed deal, Diven would plead guilty to second-degree murder and give up his right to appeal the conviction. He would also plead guilty to a sentencing enhancement he faces for using a firearm.

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer described this proposal during a hearing today.

Those involved still need to hash it out. Diven’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ryan McClurg, said revisiting the hearing in two weeks would give enough time for the parties to go over the proposal.

Testimony during the preliminary hearing revealed that the killing was part of a love triangle dynamic between the two men and a woman who testified in exchange for immunity.

Diven was held to answer to the charges following this hearing. Testimony from the witness substantially linked Diven to the killing. Law enforcement testified that Diven borrowed a shotgun from a friend, used as the murder weapon based on texts exchanged with the friend and shotgun pellets found amid McKenney’s remains. 

The judge said he didn’t have a doubt Diven killed McKenney, but noted there was a possibility for a self-defense argument, after hearing evidence and arguments from both sides.

Second-degree murder is a killing without premeditation and comes with a shorter sentence than first-degree, if convicted.

Diven has pleaded not guilty.

The next hearing was set for October 29.

Hoopa Shooting Case Involving Teens Further Delayed After Attorney Suffers Serious Car Crash

Finding an attorney to represent one suspect accused of fatally shooting 17-year-old Dylan Moon of Hoopa has hit another block.

A newly appointed attorney was seriously injured in a car accident last month, further delaying the case. The court moved to find a new attorney for codefendant William Warren, accused of murder.

Dylan Moon. | Photo via Facebook.

The county has faced trouble tracking down an attorney to represent Warren. The case involves massive volumes of evidence, multiple alleged assault victims and serious allegations of gang violence.

Plus, both the Public Defender and Conflict Counsel’s offices declared conflicts in representing the defendant early on.

The first private attorney appointed by the court had stepped down after questions arose about his ability to represent a suspect in a death penalty case (prosecutors later said they decided to not pursue the death penalty). Yet another lawyer declared a conflict recently, after reviewing additional evidence in the case.

Kevin Davenport was appointed as counsel last month.

But Andrea Sullivan, who represents codefendant Tse-Lin Lincoln, told the court that Davenport, a friend of hers, was seriously injured in a September solo car accident. He remains unable to speak due to a broken jaw and recently was only able to communicate through shaking his head ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Judge Steven Steward, who noted he was sorry to hear about the man’s injuries and hopes he recovers soon, said this presents an issue for the case. Both defendants remain in custody, and the case cannot move forward without representation for Warren.

Thus, after making sure Warren understood the situation, he put the matter over a week to see if another attorney can be appointed.

The next hearing was set for October 23.

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