Humboldt Sentinel

Inmate Dies After Strangulating Self

Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

On Friday, March 8th, at 7:00 p.m., a Humboldt County Correctional Officer on a routine security check within the jail’s housing unit found inmate Jose Fernandez-
Moreno, a 46-year-old male, unconscious with a bed sheet
tied around his neck, the HCSO reported.

Correctional Officers and facility medical staff immediately began life saving efforts which resulted in successfully regaining a pulse.

Personnel from the Eureka Fire Department and City Ambulance responded and assisted in transporting Fernandez-Moreno to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was admitted.  Fernandez-Moreno was placed on life support after his condition worsened.

On Monday, March 11 at 6:23 p.m.,Fernandez-Moreno died as a result of his suicide attempt.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detectives are continuing their involvement in the investigation which has been turned over to the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office.  An autopsy date is pending.

Fernando-Moreno was in custody on charges of:

• Assault with Intent to Commit Rape
• Rape by Force/Violence/Duress
• Penetration by Foreign Object

His bail was set at $250,000. Fernandez-Moreno was also being held on a detainer issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the HCSO reported.

* * * * * * * *

This is the second successful jail suicide to happen in the last month or two. 

We’re hearing cell checks by jail staff occur once or twice an hour.  That is woefully insufficient given the myriad of mental health problems that prevail in this select population.

Perhaps it’s time to increase the frequency of cell checks to prevent further fatal incidents from occurring in the future, because what’s happening now isn’t working.

(Posted by Skippy Massey)

Strange Event Just Got Stranger

–Updated Below–

Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

First we have the HCSO report today:

 
On January 20 at approximately 8 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office was called by a citizen who reported a male possibly deceased located at Centerville Beach near Ferndale.

A deputy and medical was dispatched to the scene approximately 1/2 mile south of the parking lot.  When the deputy arrived he saw a male located in the area described between the cliffs and the water line.  Medical and the deputy determined the male was deceased.

Sheriff’s Detectives and the Coroners Office were summoned to the scene to investigate the death.  The death is determined suspicious at this time.  The identity of the deceased has not been confirmed.  Sheriff’s Detectives are requesting the public’s help with this case.

The vehicle described:  Blue with Tan Trim, Eddie Bauer 2000 Ford Explorer, with California Plates.

Deceased male described: White male, late 40’s , wearing sweat pants, a sweat shirt, two scarf’s, a beanie and a hoodie.

Anyone who may have seen this man at Centerville Beach or has any information regarding this case is requested to call Detective Rich Schlesiger at 1-707-268-3642 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

The investigation is ongoing and further information may be released in the future.

 So who was this individual whose body was found just below the steep cliffs of the now-defunct Centerville Naval Facility?  Did he commit suicide or was he murdered?  

This is where it takes a turn for the truly strange.

Kym Kemp fills us in on the rest of the bizarre story with her link here:  “Centerville Beach Body Identified as Man Outed for Pretending to be Navy Seal”

And the Times-Standard link by Luke Ramseth:  “Man Found Dead at Centerville Beach was Navy SEAL Impostor; Officials say Densmore Likely in Humboldt for Several Days”

UPDATE, JANUARY 29, 2013:  The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reported the following brief information today:

On 01-29-2013 an autopsy was conducted on Ike Densmore.  The medical examiner concluded that Densmores death was self inflicted by a gunshot wound.

* * * * * * * * * *

(Posted by Skippy Massey)

Circumstances of Death Remain a Mystery

Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

A man was found dead at the South Jetty around 7:30 a.m. yesterday.

The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office says the adult male
was found by a passerby on a quad vehicle, just above the
surf-line near the parking lot area.  They believe the body
is someone who’s been filed with police as missing out of
Rio Dell since December 1.

Deputy Coroner Roy Horton responded to the scene Tuesday and has positively identified the man.

“There are no injuries that appear to have caused the man’s death,” Horton said.

Horton said the man was discovered by a citizen on an ATV, who was gathering firewood on the beach.  The driver of the ATV reported seeing the man alive last night, according to Horton.

The Coroner’s Office is investigating how the body got there.
 
Investigating officials say there is a question of how the body got to this location on the South Jetty.  They report there was no vehicle associated with him at the scene.

They also indicate the condition of his body is not reflective of having been in the water for any long period of time, considering how long he’s been missing.  The body had some unexplained minor lacerations.

A witness told the Coroner’s office he was at the same Jetty location on Monday and the body wasn’t there;  it appeared within 24 hours later, he said.

Horton said the identity of the deceased man will be released after the next of kin are contacted.

The KIEM-TV news report is here.

UPDATE:  The Coroner has identified the man as Judson Isaiah Nolan, 41, of Rio Dell.  There were no injuries found for his death.  The Coroner added it’s likely Nolan hitchhiked or got a ride to the area.

 (Posted by Skippy Massey)

Friends and Colleagues Mourn One of Their Own

Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

Friends and colleagues were stunned to learn one of their municipal employees had fatally shot himself inside the Del Norte County Courthouse Sunday.

The Del Norte Sheriff’s Office is still investigating what happened following the apparent suicide of one of its bailiffs.  Little information has been released.  The Del Norte Triplicate news has yet to report any details about the fatal shooting that occurred inside the normally secure courthouse.

Del Norte County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Bill Steven said 45-year-old Deputy Bailiff Harold Esparza was off-duty when he entered the County Courthouse on Sunday, September 23.  Mr. Esparza proceeded to one of the courtroom holding cells, and there, apparently shot himself in the head.

No foul play was involved, and the Del Norte County Coroner has ruled Esparza’s death to be a suicide.   An autopsy is scheduled for today.

The Del Norte Sheriff’s Office said Mr. Esparza had given no note, warning, or outward signs of distress prior to his death.

It came as a complete surprise to many.  A married father with children, Mr. Esparza was well liked in the community.

Growing up in Crescent City and attending high school there, Esparza participated in many community events over the years.  He was a 20-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department and served with the Crescent City Volunteer Fire Department and the Search and Rescue team.  Always willing to lend a helpful hand or friendly ear, Esparza assisted many in the community and to those in law enforcement.

Steven called deputy Esparza “a good guy.” 

“Harold Esparza was a great deputy, but an even greater man,” said Steven. “He was very popular and well-liked by all who knew him and worked with him.”

Other mourning community residents echoed that sentiment.

“He was a very valued member of our agency and our department,” said Sheriff Dean Wilson. “He had lots of friends inside the department and in the community for which he served.”

“He was probably the nicest guy I have ever known. He was one of those guys who would do anything you asked of him,” said Fire Chief Steve Wakefield. “He is going to be sorely missed by this agency and the community he served.”

Cmdr. Steven said Esparza may have killed himself due to “a combination of stress” and other undisclosed issues.

Depression and suicide are more prevalent in law enforcement than most other professions due to a combination of factors.

Last year, 177 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty while 143 committed suicide, according to the Law Enforcement Suicide Prevention website.

Few law enforcement departments have suicide prevention policies in place– only about 2%, according to one study.  Consequently, potentially despondent officers may be reluctant to seek help without such policies offering job protection, support, counseling and guidance.

Services for Mr. Esparza are scheduled Friday morning, September 28,  at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Crescent City.