[UPDATE 4:52 p.m.:Another Photo] Decomposed Body Found Near Eagle Prairie Bridge Connecting Rio Dell and Scotia

Death InvestigationA decomposed body was discovered on the Scotia side of the Eagle Prairie Bridge, which connects Rio Dell and Scotia, according to initial reports. About 1:50 p.m., according to scanner reports, Rio Dell police were at the scene standing by with the person who originally reported finding the body, with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on their way and expected to take over the investigation as that area is their jurisdiction.

The area is known to have a large homeless encampment nearby. But it is unknown if the deceased is connected with the camp.

Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.

Note: Appreciative thanks to Emily Scoles who is very helpful at gathering information.

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Video and photos from Emily Scoles.

Law enforcement at the location of the decomposing body located near Rio Dell, CA

Law enforcement at the location of the decomposing body located near Rio Dell, CA

Law enforcement at the location of the decomposing body located near Rio Dell, CA

UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: Photographer Lauren Johnson sent us this photo which shows where the body was located. It may have been deposited as water levels in the Eel River dropped.

Law enforcement at the location of the decomposing body located near Rio Dell

Law enforcement at the location of the decomposing body which is on a slight raised gravel island in the Eel River. [Photo Lauren Johnson]

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54 Please improve the conversation by disagreeing thoughtfully and backing your claims with facts
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Hugo Root
Guest
Hugo Root
1 year ago

My Grandfather said the only thing he ever smelled that stank as badly as a dead human was a dead pig.

Catbus1974
Guest
Catbus1974
1 year ago
Reply to  Hugo Root

That’s a lovely contribution. On behalf of everyone who’s eyes had the fortune to happen upon and who’s brain was allowed to digest a sentiment so lovely, I’d like to say thank you. Now whenever I smell either I can be assured, because your PeePaw said so, that it stank as badly as the other.

Antichrist
Guest
Antichrist
1 year ago
Reply to  Hugo Root

There is a smell that comes as soon as a death occurs , once you smell it , you can never forget it , it is not foul so much as a almost sweet sick sort of smell , you can smell it even after leaving the area the death occurred and in many cases still smell it on the clothes you were wearing even if you never were in contact with the person that has passed just being near is enough. Nothing in has effected me more than that smell , it is powerful , it will remind a person of things that they worked hard to over come and it happens so incredibly fast , that it hits harder than a bass drum at a rock concert unless you are prepared for it . And yes pigs do have the same smell as humans at death , however humans and pigs are very much compatible , we use pigs to grow human body parts for transplants we are so close. It is very sickening to think about how our race can be so very cruel to creatures , it has to be some sort of mental illness that drives this sort of behavior when we will permit condone or whatever the torture of something else to promote a slightly longer life. When in fact most have already had a longer life then they are permitting the victim to have . Very sad the state of human mental decay we deserve everything we have coming thats for sure

pcwindham@suddenlink.n
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

You’re obviously had direct experience with the smell. Hard not to gag if you’re not prepared

Earthquake weather again this morning
Guest
Earthquake weather again this morning
1 year ago

Or not.
I’ve helped deal with about 15 dead bodies in various states, done CPR on five. They smell anywhere from piss, barf, poo, blood, to leather. Not good, but not so dramatic. Like any dead animal. It’s the digestive smells that remind you of humans. Brush and floss! Decomposition starts at your face hole.

pcwindham
Member
1 year ago

This was a floater. A week or so in the water is like a week in the jungle. The body is barely recognizable as human.

Earthquake weather again this morning
Guest
Earthquake weather again this morning
1 year ago
Reply to  pcwindham

I’ve found one within 12 hours maybe. Hung up after floating. After/during hypothetical hypothermia. Not super smelly.

pcwindham
Member
1 year ago

Sorry you had to see that

The Real Guest
Guest
The Real Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  pcwindham

Thanks for that input…

I’m not trying to be funny, but you describe it as a floater, but what I am wondering if it was stationary, or if it was a drifter…

A body could travel a long way drifting for a week…

And what makes you say a week, and no, I don’t suspect you, or anything like that…

Just a general statement…???
I have a valid reason that I’m asking you both questions, if you don’t mind…

Seems like it could have been a fisherman.A week prior to the body’s discovery, Early AM, I noticed a lot of fishermen activity, around Garberville…

Then it rained pretty hard…

The river must have been dropping prior to this discovery…

Odd there are no area relevant missing persons reports lately, that I know of, besides one that seems extremely unlikely…

pcwindham
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  The Real Guest

Drowning victims often sink because of the weight of clothes, etc. Depending on the temperature, internal decomposition starts to release gases in a week or so. That brings the body back to the surface, hence “floater”. The gases are what makes the stench

catbus1974
Guest
catbus1974
1 year ago

facts.

Hugo Root
Guest
Hugo Root
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

I agree with you about human`s treatment of animals. I like animals much better than I do humans in general.

Savage Pete
Guest
Savage Pete
1 year ago
Reply to  Hugo Root

Hitler had similar views I’ve heard. People who value animals more than human beings……..

Farce
Guest
Farce
1 year ago
Reply to  Savage Pete

Hitler was a vegetarian. So…does that mean that all vegetarians are secretly like Hitler?!

old guy
Guest
old guy
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

yeppers, obviously

catbus1974
Guest
catbus1974
1 year ago
Reply to  old guy

That’s like saying ALL boomers are responsible for the denigration of the American ideal, the hollowing out of the economy, and the ruination of the planet for everyone else and their kids.. I’m sure there are a couple exceptions.

THC
Member
THC
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

I mean people get tied to Hitler for less, like a hand gesture for instance?‍♂️

Savage Pete
Guest
Savage Pete
1 year ago
Reply to  Farce

Obviously, yes. Harvesting vegetables is mass slaughter.

catbus1974
Guest
catbus1974
1 year ago
Reply to  Savage Pete

Let the rabbits wear glasses!!!!

catbus1974
Guest
catbus1974
1 year ago
Reply to  Savage Pete

animals value human beings more than human beings do… Just sayin’

Booshiii
Guest
Booshiii
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

This guy is sus as hell

Shootr45
Member
Shootr45
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

I think on social media we may need something between the + and – to voice our opinion. This reply started very well, and then went kind of sideways.

THC
Member
THC
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

Interesting read first thing in the morning on a Sunday. Well, time to go cook some waffles, bacon and eggs for the kids..

Zipline
Guest
Zipline
1 year ago
Reply to  Antichrist

Have “smelled” thousands of dead bodies, relatively fresh…<week old….smells fine to me. The dead are amoung the easiest folks to work with….

catbus1974
Guest
catbus1974
1 year ago
Reply to  Zipline

thousands?

Juanita
Guest
Juanita
1 year ago
Reply to  Hugo Root

And your comment is a close second

Lacewing
Guest
Lacewing
1 year ago
Reply to  Hugo Root

Hugo, your comment may be true but it is hurtful and insensitive to all of us who have lost a loved one. If your intention was to garner sympathy for the recovery team, we already have that.

Country Joe
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Hugo Root

Very inappropriate Hugo.

Martin
Guest
Martin
1 year ago

I sure pray that law enforcement and the coroner can identify the poor soul who has perished. Homeless or not it, is very sad.

pcwindham
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

It really is sad. What a helluva way to go.

Martin
Guest
Martin
1 year ago
Reply to  pcwindham

That is for sure. Not to mention it was some one’s child at one point. If they can find the victim’s family, I would like to send my condolences to them and hope their relative will finally RIP.

Roy’s mom
Guest
Roy’s mom
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

Thank you as I’m am mortified at these cold hearted comments as my son is a missing person in Humboldt County and LE do absolutely nothing to help families of missing persons no mother should have to be out here looking for her son alone!????? it’s a living hellish horror!! God please let me find my Son Roy Tsatoke ????????????

Heather Allen
Guest
Heather Allen
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kim is there any way to get undated information on this I’m in torture wondering if it could be my son

Lisa Music
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Heather Allen

Heather, I can only imagine the struggle. We have requested additional information but have yet to recieve anything additional. Have you contacted HCSO? They may be able to give you information as the mother of a missing person.

MemyselfandI
Guest
MemyselfandI
1 year ago
Reply to  Heather Allen

A mom my family knows has posted on Facebook that it was her son. May your son be found safe ♥️

Lucy
Guest
Lucy
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

She is the young man’s mother

IMG_8214
MemyselfandI
Guest
MemyselfandI
1 year ago
Reply to  Heather Allen

My Family knows the mother whose son this is. She posted it’s her son on Facebook. May you find your son safe ♥️

Martin
Guest
Martin
1 year ago
Reply to  Roy’s mom

I truly hope you will find your son. Some people have no heart when it comes to missing folks.

Marie
Guest
Marie
1 year ago

Praying that they can identify this person & bring some comfort & closure to their family and friends.

The Real Guest
Guest
The Real Guest
1 year ago

Kym,
Going by what appears to be the new 101 double spanned bridge’s shadow, and the time of day, in the most recent photo of the recovery location, it would appear that this is downstream of the new 101 bridge, not “under the Eagle Prairie Bridge”, as first reported…

Thanks Kym, asked and answered…, and probably answered before I even asked…

A picture is worth a thousand words…

The Real Guest
Guest
The Real Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  The Real Guest

Correction…

It was first reported as…
“on the Scotia side of the Eagle Prairie Bridge”, not, “under the Eagle Prairie Bridge”…

I regret the error..

Country Joe
Member
1 year ago

How sad. Rest in Peace…

Dumboldt
Guest
Dumboldt
1 year ago

Is that a fentanyl warrior bent over on the sidewalk to watch out for the officers safety?

Poking the bear
Guest
Poking the bear
1 year ago
Reply to  Dumboldt

That bridge has a little bit of a history with jumpers. I remember a guy in the 80s jumping, naked , broke some bones the ran around town for help.

crap
Guest
crap
1 year ago

Back in the 80’s someone left a dead body under there with hand cut off and teeth kicked out to keep from being identified. If I remember correctly it was a guy I knew when I was in Kinter garden.

Martin
Guest
Martin
1 year ago
Reply to  Dumboldt

Not everyone who walks that bridge including the person bent over is a fentanyl warrior.

Poking the bear
Guest
Poking the bear
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

There was 2 lady’s dropped off that bridge back in the 80s to separately. A kid I went to school with ,and lived by, found them both. 7th grade lucky him

Lisa
Guest
Lisa
1 year ago
  1. Doesn’t surprise me. Murder and crime in Humboldt county is in the top 5 dangerous in the state. The drug’s and crime, homeless people are in abundance. My condolences to the family and friends. I pray they find whom did this but of course they’ll probably never find who did this whorable crime as after a body is found decomposed and in the river it’s washed away too much evidence and that’s so sad. May they find whom did this is a long shot unless they died of natural causes or accidently fell ECT. This is sad. God speed to the family and friends. I do pray they find out how,who,where,how,why and when this happened to this person.
Poking the bear
Guest
Poking the bear
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa

Your definitely right humboldt has had a history of murder. It started with the native Americans. And it was socially acceptable. The line between right and wrong was blurry at best in humboldt from its inception. I think a couple of family’s still produce antisocial genetics.

Poking the bear
Guest
Poking the bear
1 year ago

If it’s natural causes they will release info soon. If you don’t hear about it, then it’s a case.

Poking the bear
Guest
Poking the bear
1 year ago

Humboldt county history is so tied to murder that they named a creek and valley after a serial killer, Larrabee he bragged of killing 60 children with a hatchet. And was a hero. Same with Kenyon, port Kenyon in ferndale . Look those guys up. Larrabee killed his sons best friend and his family because they were native american.