MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The search for a Hidden Valley Lake man ended on Tuesday with the discovery of his body.

The body of Stephen Christopher Carter, 48, was located at approximately 12:17 p.m. Tuesday by family members, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Carter's body was in a wooded area on his family's property between Lower Lake and Hidden Valley Lake, Brooks said.

Evidence, items and information gathered during the course of the search and investigation indicated that Carter died of self-inflicted injuries, Brooks said.

Carter, a well-known local attorney who had for many years led the county's public defender contract, was reported missing by his family on Saturday after leaving home the previous day, as Lake County News has reported.

On Monday Lake County Search and Rescue spent the day looking for Carter in an area near where his car was found off of Highway 29 north of Hidden Valley Lake.

Det. Kellie Joseph told Lake County that 35 people had participated.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter from Redding also had been involved in the search, according to Brooks.

The search had been set to continue on Tuesday morning,

However, during the investigation, officials found out that Carter had obtained a firearm. Sheriff Brian Martin told Lake County News that due to concerns about safety for searchers on the ground, he decided to scale back the search at that point.

At the same time, Brooks said he was attempting to bring in more resources, including an aircraft with forward looking infrared – or FLIR – capabilities and then possibly tracking dogs.

Meanwhile, Carter's wife Angela – accompanied by her sister – decided to walk the property. Brooks said they were the ones who found him.

Brooks said initially that because Carter's body was found in extremely rough terrain, a helicopter was brought in to assist with recovery

Four Cal Fire firefighters, however, were able to walk the body out using a stokes basket – a type of stretcher – so the helicopter was canceled, Brooks said.

He said Highway 29 was closed briefly while the recovery took place.

This story has been updated: Sheriff Brian Martin clarified that the decision to scale back the search was his.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.