Lake County Sheriff’s Office investigates murder of Illinois man; suspect identified
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it has located the remains of a missing Illinois man believed to have been the victim of homicide, with the suspect now reported to be in Mexico.
Grant David Whitaker, 25, of Mackinaw, Illinois, is believed to have been killed by Mavrick William Fisher, 21, of Elko, Nevada, in an incident that occurred outside of Lake County, according to Lt. Corey Paulich.
Paulich said that on Saturday the Lake County Sheriff’s Office received information that a stolen vehicle related to Whitaker – who had been reported missing in Illinois – may be located near a Dollar General store in Lake County.
Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate the vehicle near the Dollar General store in Clearlake Oaks. Paulich said the vehicle was impounded and secured for later processing.
Whitaker’s family had received information that Whitaker had been involved in an altercation with Fisher. The two men were reported to have been traveling together, Paulich said.
Paulich said Whitaker’s family believed the altercation took place at a campground in Humboldt County, and they reported that they had not heard from him since the altercation occurred.
On Sunday evening, the sheriff’s office obtained additional information that Fisher had admitted to killing Whitaker. Paulich said the sheriff’s office also was provided with detailed directions as to where Whitaker’s body could be located.
On Monday, the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit served a search warrant at a property located off Scott’s Valley Road in Upper Lake, Paulich said.
Paulich said detectives were able to locate what is believed to be the human remains of Whitaker in a remote area near the 7500 block of Scott’s Valley Road.
The sheriff’s office was contacted later in the day by law enforcement authorities in Rosarito, Mexico, who had contacted Fisher and were able to determine that Fisher may be wanted in relation to this incident, Paulich said.
Sheriff’s detectives are working with Mexican authorities related to the return of Fisher and taking him into custody, according to Paulich.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Det. Richard Kreutzer at 707-262-4233 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..