NORTH COAST, Calif. – The remains of a man reported missing last month in Mendocino County have been identified, with authorities reporting that his death no longer appears to have been a case of homicide.
The body of Frank Edward Pinckney, 58, of Eureka was identified by a forensic odontologist, according to Lt. Shannon Barney of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Pinckney has been reported missing late last month, as Lake County News has reported.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office had begun to investigate Pinckney’s disappearance as a possible homicide after a burned Ford van later confirmed as his was found near Leggett, Barney said.
On the afternoon of Nov. 24 a citizen reported a vehicle fire just south of Leggett and stated that they saw an adult male wearing a white jumpsuit and heavy logging style boots fleeing the scene, with a leg on fire.
Authorities responded to the scene, Barney said, finding a deceased male inside the van. They found what appeared to be numerous bullet holes in the side of the van and a gun was located on the ground nearby.
They also searched the area for signs of the male subject the witness had seen near the van, but couldn’t locate anyone, Barney said.
On Nov. 28, a forensic odontologist was able to make a positive identification on the body found inside the van, identifying it as that of Pinckney, according to Barney.
Barney said Pinckney’s family members related that he had been exhibiting what was described as signs of mental health problems in the last few weeks of his life.
Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives re-interviewed an original witness, Barney said. It was previously thought that a subject was "seen fleeing from the scene" onto a private logging road.
However, Barney said the detectives since clarified with the witness that no one was seen running down a logging road and the man, whose leg was on fire, was last seen behind the van where the witness lost sight of him.
Barney said investigators now believe this man was actually Pinckney and that he reentered the van prior to his death.
Pinckney’s cause of death is still under investigation as there are forensics tests being completed, the results of which are not yet known, Barney said. However, investigators now believe homicide is no longer a likely scenario in this case.
Investigators do not believe the witness misled investigators and has been cooperating fully in this investigation, Barney said.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance.
Anyone with information related to the suspect or anyone who might have seen Pinckney or his vehicle in the past several days is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office Communications Center at 707-463-4086 or the Sheriff's Tip Line at 707-234-2100.
Mendocino County investigators confirm Eureka man’s remains identified; death does not appear to be homicide
- Lake County News reports
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