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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California Highway Patrol investigators are continuing to follow up on leads in the February murder of a Santa Clarita man, and they’re asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest who they believe has more information about the case.
Patrick Michael Weber, 41, was found dead in his sprinter van on the morning of Feb. 21, as Lake County News has reported.
Initially, Weber had appeared to have been involved in a solo-vehicle wreck after a passing motorist reported seeing the crashed van.
Weber had been traveling eastbound when his van went off the south edge of Highway 20 about a mile west of Walker Ridge Road near mile marker 42.2.
Officer Joel Skeen said it had been apparent that Weber was in the vehicle when it crashed, because he had seat belt marks.
An autopsy conducted the same day as the crash determined that Weber had died of a gunshot wound, the CHP said.
Authorities said they found a large quantity of marijuana in the cargo area of Weber’s vehicle. The CHP previously reported that investigators contacted the California Department of Cannabis Control and determined that Weber was not legally licensed to transport marijuana.
Weber’s wife told Lake County News in a February interview that her husband was involved in the cannabis industry and had gone on a trim run a few days before. They last exchanged texts the night before his death.
Now, CHP investigators have discovered a person of interest and a vehicle associated with this case and are requesting the public’s assistance with the identification of this person and the vehicle.
Officer Jake Slates, one of the CHP’s investigators working the case, told Lake County News that they obtained pictures of the male subject and the vehicle from surveillance video, some of it from within Lake County. Authorities are not disclosing the exact location of where that surveillance was located.
Slates emphasized that the man authorities are seeking is a person of interest – not a suspect.
The person of interest is described as a white male adult in his 20s or 30s, approximately 160 pounds, standing 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, the CHP said.
The CHP said the vehicle associated with the man is believed to be a late 1990s or early 2000s tan or gold Dodge Durango.
“Right now, we’ve gotten some tips from multiple people calling into the office,” said Slates.
The CHP may have a possible identification on the man, who they want to talk to about the case, Slates said.
Slates said investigators believe the man has information that could help them in their work.
This weekend, Slates was continuing to travel to follow up on leads. He said the public has been generous in offering information.
He encouraged anyone with information about the case, including the person of interest or the vehicle, to contact the CHP’s Ukiah Communications Center at 707-467-4000, 24 hours a day.
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