Body found by railroad workers thought to be an Amtrak passenger
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Submitted photo
SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. - The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is continuing its investigation into the suspicious death of a man located on December 26 after deputies received a call at 9:10 a.m., reporting a possible dead body lying near railroad tracks about .3 mile east of the Andesite Railroad Crossing near Military Pass Road, a rural area of Siskiyou County near US 97, 32-miles southeast of Yreka and east of Weed, California.
A SCSO sergeant and deputy responded to the location, where they found a deceased male adult. The incident prompted a response by the SCSO’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU).
SCSO was notified of the call by railroad authorities.
The investigation has revealed the man sustained head injuries and investigators have reason to believe he was a passenger on a southbound train prior to his death.
The approximate location of body. Lying near railroad tracks about .3 mile east of the Andesite Railroad Crossing near Military Pass Road, a rural area of Siskiyou County near US 97, 32-miles southeast of Yreka and east of Weed, California. (Google Maps)
The man’s next-of-kin have been located and notified of his death.
The decedent has been identified as David Rivas, 50, of Pasadena, California. The investigation has revealed Rivas was reportedly traveling home from North Dakota on a train the last time he contacted family members.
An autopsy was conducted, but investigators are awaiting toxicology results and conducting further investigation before a cause and manner of death are determined in the case. The autopsy confirmed the decedent was not the victim of a gunshot wound and thus far, no evidence of a felonious assault has been reasonably substantiated by investigators.
SCSO MCU detectives are working with railroad officials and family members to obtain more detailed information about his trip, timelines, and activities prior to his death.
“On behalf of the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, our thoughts and prayers are extended to Mr. Rivas, his family, friends, and associates,” said Siskiyou County Sheriff, Jon Lopey.
The case is still under investigation, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the SCSO 24-hour Dispatch Center at (530) 841-2900.”