High Country Murder: A New Documentary Looks at the Killing of Humboldt/Mendocino Rancher, Dick Drewry
A new documentary short, High Country Murder, revisits the 2021 unsolved homicide of 85-year-old rancher Richard “Dick” Drewry, whose property straddled the Humboldt and Mendocino County line. The 21-minute film, directed and produced by sisters, Keely Brazil Covello and Michaela Brazil Gillies, explores the circumstances surrounding Drewry’s death, including quoting a social media post from the daughter of a man locals have long suspected of being involved.
Members of Drewry’s family reached out to us about the video and the rumors of who shot their loved one.
“We know who did it and are still waiting on forensic evidence,” said Patrick Drewry, Dick’s son. “But the video took me back to the day I saw my dad laying in the road with a body bag over him getting snowed on. Really messed me up.”
Drewry’s family had been ranching in both Humboldt and Mendocino Counties for generations. Patrick explained to us for an earlier article, “His great grandfather settled the ranch in the 1860’s and [it] has stayed the same through 5 generations.” Drewry, lived in the very northern part of one county, Mendocino, but maintained deep connections to the neighboring county, Humboldt as his ranch sprawled across the border. Drewry even graduated from South Fork High School in Miranda. Many in the Southern Humboldt community, including this reporter, knew him and his wife, Phyllis.
On January 26, 2021, Drewry, well-liked in the community, was found dead from a gunshot wound slumped in his truck on Bell Springs Road, near Island Mountain Road. Initially, authorities considered the possibility of suicide; however, the absence of a firearm at the scene led the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to classify the death as a homicide. Despite investigations by both Humboldt and Mendocino County law enforcement agencies, no arrests have been made, and the case remains open.
The documentary delves into various theories surrounding Drewry’s murder, including alleged ties to disputes over water rights and the illicit marijuana trade. in the video, Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal tells the sisters that the case has “all of the Hollywood makings of a hit.”
High Country Murder seeks to shine a spotlight back on the case. The community wants to know a murderer does not walk free among them. And, the Drewry family seeks justice for the death of the head of their family before the snows of another winter melt.
If anyone has any information about this case, please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department at (707) 445-7251.
Earlier:
- One Person Reported to Have a Gunshot Wound Near Island Mountain Road
- Shooting in Southeastern Humboldt County Fatal, Says Sheriff’s Office
- Sheriff’s Department Requests Public’s Help in Shooting Death Investigation
- 85-Year-Old Rancher Killed By Unknown Person in Bell Springs Area: Findings From Autopsy and Investigation Reveal Shooting Was Homicide, Says Sheriff’s Department
- Today, Mendocino County Sheriff Detectives Are Assisting Humboldt County Law Enforcement Investigating Bell Springs’ Homicide
- Richard Grayson Drewry: Rancher, Entertainer, Father
- Today Marks the One Year Anniversary of the Unsolved Shooting Death of 85-Year-Old Rancher, Richard Drewry
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Somebody besides the killer has information that can lead to solving this case – please come forward.
It’s not a shocker that there might be a weed connection but Honsal’s comment is as dumb as it is insensitive.
Another death due to the peace weed.
Legalize the crap so you can grow it like corn and put the illegal growers out of business. I’m not going to smoke the shit but making it illegal isn’t stopping anyone from smoking it.
When the legalized alchole again it almost put the mafia out of business.
I know it’s not a popular opinion in Humboldt these days but the industry has destroyed nor cal. Between that, the mismanagement of county leaders and the state it is sad to see what happened to the place.
Barring any major changes I don’t see it ever getting better and it seems doomed for making a living for the average guy. To bad it is such a beautiful place
What evidence is there that it’s weed related? What is the motivation? A water issue in January? Just imagine you are an illegal weed cartel grow. What good does it do you to kill a neighbor? How does that help get you a trouble free anything next year? A marijuana grow is there to produce weed, not dramatic content for YouTube. It doesn’t seem rational. I guess it’s not like people act rationally, but if it was some neighbor drunk just hyped up on watching action movies, it seems like they’d be getting in sloppy trouble all over the place. Seems like either the most random bad luck to come across a lone road rager stranger, or somebody with a long standing profound beef. Did Drewry ever make life hard on anybody? Something that would generate a revenge motive? If there was a neighbor so angry as to just shoot him on sight any ol random time you were on the road, you’d think a lot of people would know about it. Somebody motivated and close enough to follow him around all day waiting for an opportunity, or hide in the grass(?) all winter day? Somebody motivated enough to pay somebody? Judging from the trucks, trailers and outfits in the video, there plenty of money floating around the ranch. Maybe more than being generated on surrounding weed grows.
>”Just imagine you are an illegal weed cartel grow. What good does it do you to kill a neighbor? How does that help get you enjoy trouble free anything next year? A marijuana grow is there to produce weed, not dramatic content for YouTube.”
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Hmmm… better move to Covelo (yeah, they hacked heads off the bodies)… or Kettenpom (killed victims, shot the neighbor… then died in crash)… or… (?)
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Follow the MONEY.
Yeah, that was a funny statement. There are dozens of murders tied to grows in this county
You don’t know what your talking about. All the keyboard bandits have alot of opinions with zero facts. Richard’s murder had nothing to do his ranching or weed on their part. The sheriff knows who killed him and why, and have chosen not to do anything to date. The documentary is inaccurate in a lot of ways with a little truth. The family has suffered long enough it’s time for Humboldt County Sheriff’s to finally do right by the Drewry family and give them some peace of mind.
Definitely seems like a very specific case of a murder that is motivated by very personal reasons.
None of the rest of us have any insight into that though. So you all “who know” should probably lend your input to the relevant law enforcement agencies if you intend it to be solved
Sounds like you know some inside info. If you do good job not letting the world know and possibly screwing up the investigation. 99 times out of 100 a murder in the hills of Humboldt is weed related somehow. Seems like this might be the exception. Hopefully you have let the police know what you know.
As for the sheriff not doing anything, the reality knowing who killed him and why is a far cry from being able to prove it in court. The Sheriff department does NOT make that call. It would be the DA’s office that would look at the case, make a determination then go to a judge, present their case and the judge would put out an arrest warrant. Most people do not know how the system works. Whoever killed him will kill again if they take a notion to so hopefully, they can be arrested and sent to prison before anyone else is hurt.
You are either full of shit or completely unaware of the reality of the industry and what happens.
For more Indepth look check out the sheriff department missing person map and the story murder mountain on Netflix. While the Netflix show is a bit cinematic it does touch upon the reality and mentality of many of the growers.
In addition, criminals usually don’t think about long term effects let alone immediate consequences. let alone second and third order of effects like the devastation to the loved ones or community as a whole worried about they may be the next victim.
Saying all that I am surprised if they know who it did some Mountain Justice did not occur for the killing of an old man. I am NOT advocating that just it is not an uncommon occurrence in the criminal world of the peace weed.
I’m not sure if watching Murder Mountain is the best citation of your experience here. Drewry has very little in common with almost any missing person in Humboldt or Mendocino. Plus the mystery includes him being very not missing sitting in a car. There are lots of solved weed murder examples. Drewry has very little in common with most of those victims. One of the final murders in the Netflix MTN saga, or after even, the guy who eventually got shot by the river swimming kid on the streets of Alderpoint… Well that seemed more like revenge over something that might be an uncomfortable topic. Not necessarily weed related.
All the ranchers I’ve known in Covelo have grown pot to support that cowboy lifestyle. Horses, cows, trucks, trailers and land is not cheap.
Back in the day, it was common knowledge in my SoHum neighborhood that local ranchers were tipped off on any impending CAMP raids due to their life-long family or friends in the Sheriff’s office. A friend kept one such entrepreneur’s distant garden under binocular observation. When somebody ran out and began chopping a bit early, that was our signal as well. Soon it was helicopter time.
So, all this sanctimonious tommyrot about all the noble ranchers and their aversion to “easy” money was no truer in weed prohibition than it was during alcohol Prohibition.
Give me a BREAK!
BTW, I am very sorry that this gentleman was murdered. I meant no insult or injury to his memory, and I offer condolences to the family and friends and hope for an arrest and conviction.
The ranchers were better at keeping mum and hiding their crops than the outlaws were!
People need to keep there lame ass remarks to them self unfortunately the truth has come out but they who speak the truth by first hand knowledge are not credible enough for the higher up to belive I’ll just leave it at that
It is a lot quieter & calmer now.
Heres a possible scenario:
If there were a suicide and the first one on the scene just couldnt control himself and took the weapon. What if it were a really nice old Colt Python or S&W 4 screw? One of those beautiful old revolvers that were made like a fine watch and was in perfect condition. I suspect there are more than a few who just couldnt bear to let something like this fall into the hands of the cops to be destroyed.
By no means am I saying someone should do this and I certainly wouldnt. There are more than a few who would though.
Just an idea from my fertile and warped imagination.
Addenda: I by no means was implying this happened with Mr. Drewry. The above scenario is something thats crossed my mind in a general sense.
Ive heard stories about some very unpleasant people growing weed out in the hills and with a healthy dose of methamphetamine thrown in they could be quite dangerous and unpredictable.
The likely explanation is Mr. Drewry encountered someone of this type.
Lets hope theyre caught and dealt with appropriately.
Well, but forensic tests would absolutely determine if the victim had himself fired the weapon or not. Even if someone had taken the gun, they could not destroy the physical evidence. And I am sure this idea was taken into account with the first investigation, and ruled out. Your second comment describes a far more likely scenario.
I know the Drewry family, and my heart goes out to them. I imagine this documentary will bring up unresolved loss and sorrow for many. I pray that this film will help shine the light of truth on this dark tale, so that this terrible crime will be solved and Richard’s family and loved ones finally find closure and peace.
Who the hell says that to the grieving sister?
What a crude remark from HCSO sheriff Billy Honsal. In character though
What a horrible and sad story.
This family has been here Since 1860. I feel that the way justice was served in 1860 would appropriate in this case. Modern law enforcement is WAY over thinking this. Enough people know this scum bag. It’s time for justice before he gets to old and skates
In such cases where there is such strong community knowledge, without the hard evidence the justice system requires to convict, I also think of the vigilante behavior of the “Alderpoint eight” and what I believe was an ernest however flawed attempt at old school justice. All of them subsequently suffered terrible personal harm without any meaningful justice against the perpetrator. Point is our justice system can suck, but it’s what we have.
someone knows something. For the families sake please contact law enforcement. Law enforcement is not a hit-squad, they can only act when the community shares evidence.
I am sorry I didn’t meet Drewry, however my neighbors are 3rd-4th generation ranchers cut from the same cloth. These people are the glue to our mountain communities and what we most need in our post-greenrush hangover. This needs to be solved the right way. Rural living mean mountain folks are responsible for each other. Let’s quit blaming law enforcement while the community does nothing.
The worst thing that has ever happened to this area is the marijuana industry.It has caused crime, has been an environmental disaster, has facilitated land speculation and resultant division of rural property into far too many small parcels that are difficult to service, thus creating a societal regulatory and financial nightmare,including property disputes that this crime was apparently fueled by. This is not to say all growers are bad, but for every responsible one, there are many irresponsible ones.Hopefully the latter will be gradually weeded out.
There have been worse things. Clear cutting 97% of old growth forests. State-sanctioned genocide against the native peoples. The weed scene pales in comparison. And land speculation, murder and crime also occurred before then.
Your statement is irrelevant in this matter and insensitive. Dick was my cousin. My grandmother was born on the ranch where he lived. The family is heartbroken. Get on your soapbox somewhere else.
Wouldn’t happen to have happened anywhere near where Warren David Hawkins body was located did it, or in the vacinity?
No. While both Dick and Hawkins were found near the Humboldt/Mendocino County line, Dick was near Island Mt. Road x Bell Springs Road which is eastern Humboldt, while Hawkins was found west of Hwy 101 in the northwestern portion of Mendocino County.