Man Found Dead near Hundreds of Budding Marijuana Plants

UPDATE 6/20: Mendocino Co. Sheriff Press Release:

On 06-19-2013 Sheriff’s Detectives were able to identify the victim as being Hugo Olea-Lopez a 23-year-old adult male from Upper Lake, California.

The same day a forensic autopsy was conducted and the preliminary findings showed Olea-Lopez appeared to have died as the result of a single gunshot wound to the torso.

Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing their investigation and have yet to determine a motive or identity of any suspect(s) in connection with the homicide.

To date Sheriff’s Detectives have been aided in their investigation by members of the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, County of Mendocino Marijuana Eradication Team, Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office and Ukiah Police Department.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

Original Post below:————–

Mendocino Co. Sheriff Press Release: (Earlier Press Release here.)

On 06-17-2013 at 0748 hours the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a person who had received second hand information of a possible homicide at a remote location on Spyrock Road in Laytonville, California.

Before responding to the scene a Deputy Sheriff interviewed the reporting person who advised they had received a telephone call prior to contacting the Sheriff’s Office.

The anonymous caller told the reporting person that their relative, the victim, had been murdered at the Spyrock Road location.

Upon arriving at the location described by the reporting person, law enforcement personnel located a deceased Hispanic adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Sheriff’s Detectives responded to the location and initiated a homicide investigation.

During the processing of the crime scene Sheriff’s Detectives noticed the presence of approximately 300 budding marijuana plants that had been recently cut as if to be harvested.

The plants had been growing in an outdoor setting and inside of at least two temporary greenhouse structures.

Sheriff’s Detectives learned the victim had been camping at the location while tending to the growing marijuana plants.  The victim had been found in his camp in close proximity to the cut marijuana plants.

A forensic autopsy has been scheduled for 06-19-2013 and currently the victim has yet to be positively identified.

Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing their investigation and have yet to determine a motive or identity of any suspect(s) in connection with the homicide.

Sheriff’s Detectives were aided in their crime scene investigation by the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, County of Mendocino Marijuana Eradication Team and the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.