Authorities arrest suspects in Lucerne man’s murder
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Two men who authorities were seeking for the murder of a Lucerne man on Saturday morning are now in custody.
Sheriff’s Lt. Corey Paulich said Daniel Wayne Ford, 49, of Lakeport and Michael Sean Shaffer, 35, of Upper Lake were arrested Saturday night.
The news came within hours of the sheriff’s office asking the community for leads as to the whereabouts of the two men, who detectives believe killed 70-year-old Nicky Smith on Saturday morning.
Smith’s body was found on the side of the road in the 4550 block of Scotts Valley Road in Lakeport shortly before 7:30 a.m. Saturday, as Lake County News has reported.
The discovery of Smith’s body launched an investigation during which Paulich said investigators identified Ford and Shaffer as the suspects and also located a separate but related crime scene in the area of Eickhoff Road and Scotts Valley Road.
Paulich told Lake County News late Saturday that he didn’t yet have details about where Ford and Shaffer were found.
Detectives were still out following up on leads, Paulich said at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Smith’s truck, a 2012 dark green Toyota Tundra with the license number NASTOSR, remains missing, Paulich said.
Paulich said the truck is believed to have been stolen after Smith’s death.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Sheriff’s Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.
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