Dani Simpson Burch. Photo courtesy of Jerri-Jo Idarius.

LAKEPORT – Lakeport Police on Thursday confirmed the identity of a woman found dead in her home the previous day.

Police found the body of Dani Simpson Burch, 65, along with that of her small dog inside her home at 60 Lily Cove Ave. shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to a statement issued by Lakeport Police Sgt. Kevin Odom Thursday evening.

As Lake County News first reported Thursday, officers responded to the home Wednesday night after receiving a request for a welfare check at that address.

Lakeport Fire Department personnel also responded to the address, where they confirmed Burch was deceased, according to Lakeport Police.

Initially, information police discovered at the scene appeared to indicate the death was a possible suicide, according to Odom's report.

However, upon further investigation, police reported discovering inconsistencies that raised questions regarding the death.

Based on those findings, Lakeport Police obtained a search warrant for the residence, where they reported recovering several items which may help determine what happened to Burch.

A Lake County Sheriff's deputy-coroner was dispatched to the scene to take part in the investigation, said Odom.

Early Thursday morning, while officers were on the scene, Dani Burch's son, 41-year-old Jeffrey Simpson, arrived at the home he reportedly shared with his mother.

Simpson was driving a rental car with a crumpled front end and deployed air bags, according to Harold LaBonte, Lake County News correspondent and photographer.

At some point after Simpson arrived at the scene, he attempted to attack LaBonte and was wrestled to the ground by police officers.

Sgt. Jason Ferguson arrested Simpson, who was booked Thursday afternoon into the Lake County Jail on a felony charge of threatening to commit a crime with the intent to terrorize and misdemeanor battery on a person. Bail was set at $101,000.

Simpson had been arrested on Dec. 18 by the California Highway Patrol for several drug charges, according to Lake County Jail records.

Burch's body was removed from the scene shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday, according to LaBonte.

Odom reported that an autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted in the near future.

Burch, who formerly lived in Potter Valley according to address records, was an artist whose work had been shown at Lakeport's Main Street Gallery, according to the Lake County Arts Council. Her work also had been featured by Mendocino County galleries and publications.

The investigation into Burch's death is continuing, according to Odom's report. Anyone with information related to the incident should call Lakeport Police Detective Norm Taylor at 707-263-9653.

Harold LaBonte contributed to this report.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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