KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Authorities have arrested a Finley man for the murder of his cousin.

Salvador Flores Guzman, 69, was taken into custody on Monday afternoon, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Salvador Guzman is charged with the murder of 78-year-old Manuel Guzman of Kelseyville, Brooks said.

Brooks said sheriff's deputies responded to the area of Stone Drive near Scully Packing Co. in Finley at around 10:15 p.m. Sunday on the report of a male lying outside of a vehicle.

When deputies arrived they found a deceased male lying on the ground outside of a pickup truck, which appeared to have been involved in some type of accident, Brooks said.

He said that as deputies were checking the decedent, they found what appeared to be sharp force injuries to the man's chest and abdomen.

Sheriff’s detectives and crime scene personnel subsequently responded to the scene. Brooks said detectives investigated the case throughout the night and the following day. 

Detectives were able to identify the decedent as Manuel Guzman. Based on the damage to Guzman’s vehicle, detectives believed he was possibly forced off the roadway by another vehicle, Brooks said.

Brooks said detectives discovered that Manuel Guzman had left Konocti Vista Casino in his pickup at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday.

With the assistance of casino personnel, detectives were able to develop information about a subject who may have been involved, along with a vehicle description, Brooks said.

Brooks said that individual believed to have been involved in Manuel Guzman's death was identified as Salvador Guzman.

At 4:15 p.m. Monday the sheriff’s office received information that Salvador Guzman was at Lakeside County Park in his vehicle, according to Brooks.

Sheriff’s deputies and detectives responded to the park, where they located Salvador Guzman and placed him under arrest for the murder of Manuel Guzman, Brooks said.

Guzman was booked into the Lake County Jail on Tuesday morning on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and murder, according to his booking sheet.

He currently remains in custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility without bail, Brooks said.

“I am greatly appreciative of the hard work and efforts of both Lake County Sheriff's Office personnel, and the staff at Konocti Vista Casino,” said Sheriff Brian Martin. “Their cooperative efforts led to a quick resolution in this investigation.”