MCSO Searching for Man After Child Last in His Care is Found Deceased

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

MCSO Case# 2022-17956
PERSON OF INTEREST
Edward “Two Feathers” Steele
32-year-old / Approximately 6 feet tall / 185 pounds
Photo Date: 10-22-2021

On 08-03-2022 at about 1:22 PM, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center was contacted by a concerned parent regarding their two missing children who were left in the care of Edward “Two Feathers” Steele at a hotel in the 1300 block of North State Street in Ukiah, California.

Deputies responded to the area and attempted to locate Steele and the two missing children (two-year-old male and one-year-old male).

At about 3:55 PM, medical first responders were dispatched to an unattended child near the railroad tracks in the 300 block of Brush Street in Ukiah.

A concerned citizen had located a two-year-old child near the railroad tracks who appeared to be suffering from heat related symptoms.  The concerned citizen was able to locate a passerby who contacted 9-1-1.  The two-year old child was transported to Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Hospital for treatment.

Based on the discovery of the two-year-old child, a search was conducted of the immediate area.

During the search, at about 4:20 PM, law enforcement personnel located the child’s one-year-old sibling deceased in the general area.

The cause of death is not known at this time and is pending forensic autopsy which is scheduled for 08-05-2022.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detectives assisted by Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office Investigators, Ukiah Police Department Detectives, and Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force Agents began a joint investigation into the circumstances of the child’s death.

Edward “Two Feathers” Steele (see photograph) has been identified as a person of interest in this investigation.

Steele is believed to have information concerning the two children prior to their discovery on Brush Street.

At this time, Steele’s whereabouts are unknown and it is believed that he is avoiding law enforcement contact.

Steele is a Native American male, 32-years-old, standing approximately 6 feet tall, weighing 185 pounds, with short hair.  He can be further identified by a distinctive 4-inch tattoo of two vertical feathers on the left side of his face (photograph does not depict tattoo).

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information concerning Edward Two Feathers Steele and his possible whereabouts to contact our dispatch center at 707-463-4086.

During this investigation, investigators learned that at approximately 4:50 AM on 08-03-2022, a male subject accompanied by two young children were identified as walking near North State Street and Ford Road.  A concerned citizen reported the information to Sheriff’s Office Dispatch but neither the male subject nor children were located upon deputies’ arrival.

A check of the area was conducted that morning with negative results.  Investigators believe this was Steele and the two children.  They were last seen walking southbound on North State Street from Ford Road.

Investigators are asking business owners to review any exterior surveillance camera footage from 4:30 AM through 7:00 AM on 08-03-2022.

Investigators are asking that any activity depicting an adult male either carrying or walking with small children be reported to the Sheriff’s Office by calling 707-463-4086.

These businesses include:

Any businesses located between the 900 block and 1500 block of North State Street in Ukiah.

Any businesses located on Mazzoni Street in Ukiah.

Any businesses located east of the Brush Street/North State Street Intersection through the 300 block of Brush Street in Ukiah.

UPDATE: Man Wanted in Connection With Death of One-Year-Old and Abandonment of Two-Year-Old Arrested, Says MCSO