The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
Incident Number:
2024-4393
Crime/Incident:
Coroner’s Investigation
Location:
Russian River near Norgard Lane in Ukiah, CA
Date of Incident:
03-01-2024
Time:
10:05 AM
Victim(s):
Joshua Freeman (45-year-old male from Potter Valley, CA)
Suspect(s):
N/A
Written By:
Sergeant Jay Vanoven #1286
On 03/01/2024 at approximately 10:05 AM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office patrol personnel responded to the area of the Russian River near Norgard Lane, to investigate a report of a body discovered in the river. Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Community Service Officers, and a Patrol Sergeant arrived in the area and met with personnel from the Ukiah Police Department. It was confirmed that an obviously deceased person was resting against a tree, still partially submerged in the swift-moving water.
Personnel from Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Little Lake Fire District, and Hopland Fire Protection District were summoned to assist with recovering the deceased person. A Swift Water Response Team deployed and recovered the deceased person from the river. Law enforcement personnel recognized the individual as Joshua Scott Freeman, a life-long Mendocino County resident.
No obvious signs of foul play were observed. At this time there is an active coroner’s investigation to determine the classification and cause of Freeman’s death. A forensic autopsy is pending for this coroner’s investigation.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086, or the anonymous tip line at 707-234-2100.
