Alderpoint Death Raises ‘a Lot of Questions,’ Says Humboldt County Coroner

When the body of the 71-year-old Alderpoint resident was initially found beside the road on January 21, the initial theory was that he had been struck by a car, said Ernie Stewart Humboldt County’s Chief Deputy Coroner. But, Stewart said, the autopsy recently performed ruled that out.

Currently, his office is hoping that toxicology reports can give more information.

The deceased was found with no identification on him and the Coroner’s Office only learned his name late last night. Contact has been made with people who knew him but as of 11:30 a.m. today the man’s kin had not been located and informed. A deputy coroner is in the Southern Humboldt area investigating today.

“There are a lot of questions in this case,” Stewart said. One of the major questions, he stated, was the question of how the deceased ended up alongside the road in such a rural area. The area, he said, “was far enough [from the resident’s home] that it raises a lot of concerns.”

Map below shows how remote the area is.

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21 Comments
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ED Denson
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ED Denson
8 years ago

(Sigh) This is not an “Alderpoint” death. The map shows a location well over 10 miles from Alderpoint and closer to Garberville than Alderpoint. “Pratt Mountain” death might be a more accurate description. Yes, the body was found on the Alderpoint Road, but the Alderpoint Road is 36 miles long and runs from Garberville to Bridgeville. I don’t know who this person was, and so I don’t know whether he was actually, as described, an “Alderpoint resident.” I am an Alderpoint resident. If I am injured in Ukiah is this another “Alderpoint” headline? Alderpoint is actually a nice place to live and while I have no objections to telling it like it is, I do have objections to telling it like it isn’t. Give us poor Alderpillians a break, please.

Eastside
Guest
Eastside
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Maybe it could read Man FROM Alderpoint, not Alderpoint Death.

saucy
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saucy
8 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

I’ve never heard of anyone from alderpoint refering to themselves or anyone from there as “Alderpillians”…Alderpointians, maybe…And secondly it’s not like a slightly misleading headline (in some peoples opinion obviously) is gonna tarnish AP’s fabulous reputation. every long time sohum local can tell you exactly where ‘murder mountain’ is…

REAL ALDERPOINT LOCAL
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REAL ALDERPOINT LOCAL
8 years ago
Reply to  saucy

Then you would know that Alderpoint and The Rancho Sequoia Subdivision aka “murder mountain” are not that same place.

saucy
Guest
saucy
8 years ago

what exactly do you consider AP? no more then a half mile radius from the store?

ED Denson
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ED Denson
8 years ago
Reply to  saucy

I always thought “murder mountain” was closer to Benbow. I think the name may have been free floating and gotten attached to the Rancho Sequoia when a couple of murders occurred up there. We are all tabloid lovers at heart.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

With all due respect for Ed, I’m on Kym’s side. She got the story out there and the text made the location pretty clear. We Benbowillians have our own burden to carry.

Teri Davidson Wilson
Guest
Teri Davidson Wilson
8 years ago
Reply to  ED Denson

Yes, Hugh Duggins was an Alderpoint resident for decades.
He owned his home located right in the center of town. I will miss my good friend forever. Although, some might have known him for his gruff exterior, his smile could light up a room. The loving memories he has left me and my family, I will be ever grateful.
Hugh Duggins was a very good man.

Ann Duggins Lee
Guest
Ann Duggins Lee
8 years ago

Thank you, Teri. Hugh was my brother. You described him perfectly. Gruff on the outside, but a heart of gold on the inside.

Kimbery Clark Arvizu
Guest
Kimbery Clark Arvizu
8 years ago

Just for info , This person was not a druggie , was a long term resident of Alderpoint, and a very up standing man of our community . It is a very strange situation. I can only hope and pray someone finds the truth. I agree with Ed, it is a nice little community, with lots of awesome people living there.

REAL ALDERPOINT LOCAL
Guest
REAL ALDERPOINT LOCAL
8 years ago

Thank you, people who don’t live here..Dont understand..

Pamela Browne
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Pamela Browne
8 years ago

Hugh Duggins was an Alderpoint resident for more than 30 years and a very good person. I hope they can figure out what happened to him. He was my friend and I will miss him.

Dyerville Loop is Not Alderpoint
Guest
Dyerville Loop is Not Alderpoint
8 years ago

Thanks for your reporting Kym; you’ve been a very reliable and timely source of local news. Totally get it about deadlines, and just getting it out there.

Suggested change: “Alderpoint Man’s Death Raises a Lot of Questions” keeps it from sounding like the death occurred in Alderpoint. Where it happened is still unknown, right?

All the same, as you can see from comments, it’s a long-standing issue for people around here when it seems like every bad thing that happens anywhere along the AP road, from Gville to Bridgeville is labeled “Alderpoint”. Long before you started reporting, the newspapers did the same thing, and folks got their dander up. They just didn’t have the speed of computers to make comments about it!

P
Guest
P
8 years ago

The body was found on Alderpoint rd. Everybody take 5 chill pills! If a body is found on Alderpoint rd most locals would say a body was found in the Alderpoint area and then anyone that actually knows that area will ask where in that area. Calm down, what’s important is the guy who passed away, not how it’s worded in the headlines, geez. Ive lived on Dyerville and Rancho Sequoia, when people asked where I live I always said Alderpoint area and i was %100 correct!

Josie Wales
Guest
Josie Wales
8 years ago

Now, its been weeks since his autopsy. Can we know more? He’d been accused of crimes before his death. Why is his body miles down the road from any town? Thank you

Teri Wilson
Guest
Teri Wilson
8 years ago
Reply to  Josie Wales

Hugh Duggins was my friend and to say such terrible lies after his passing is shameful. He was NOT accused of any crimes before his death.
Shame on you. Hugh was a good and honest man.

Lawrence Candel
Guest
Lawrence Candel
6 years ago

Now I never lived in Alderpoint, but my dad would drive around and look at property back in the 70’s. It appeared to be a quaint historic town. Very quiet and was it was losing population at one point. We never did move to Alderpoint, but I agree murder or missing persons can happen anywhere and shouldn’t be attached to the town’s name.