LAKEPORT – A man who authorities believe was the victim of homicide in March died of head trauma, according to autopsy results released Thursday.

The autopsy may be the final piece of a homicide case the sheriff's office will soon be forwarding to the district attorney.

Lt. Cecil Brown of the Lake County Sheriff's Office reported that an autopsy of the body of Michael Eugene Fausnaugh, 38, indicated that Fausnaugh’s death was caused by cerebral edema, due to blunt force head injuries.

Fausnaugh's body was spotted by a motorist on a dirt turnout on the west side of Highway 29 south of Tule Lake Road on March 22.

Brown said the autopsy process began at the time Fausnaugh's body was found. On Monday, Forensic Medical Group Inc. examined the body, which helped lead to the conclusion that he died of blunt force trauma.

“It took several examinations and conferring with some experts before a cause of death could be determined,” said Brown.

As to possible suspects in the case, Brown said the sheriff's office has identified the people who were with Fausnaugh when his injuries occurred.

A sheriff's office investigation led by Det. Brian Kenner put Fausnaugh at the Middle Creek Campground in Upper Lake on March 21, as Lake County News previously reported.

Witnesses said that Fausnaugh, who was suffering from “significant” head injuries, was at the campground with Jamie Martin, 20, of Lucerne, Terri Kenney, 48, of Nice and Shamus Maroney, 27, also of Nice.

Martin, Kenney and Maroney were seen placing Fausnaugh in their vehicle and driving away, reportedly headed off to seek medical attention.

Maroney was arrested March 23 on a parole violation, with a murder charge later added to his booking sheet. Kenney was picked up March 27 and Martin on March 28, also in connection with Fausnaugh's murder.

All three have since been released.

However, Brown said the sheriff's office is finalizing its report to the District Attorney's Office, and he did not point to different potential suspects.

“Now it's going to be up to the DA's Office to determine who should be charged and what they should be charged with,” Brown said.

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