Regional
- Details
- Written by: Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office
NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help in the Bailey Blunt missing person investigation.
Blunt was reported missing to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 25, 2023.
She was last seen on Sept. 22, 2023, when she reportedly went to retrieve her belongings from a location off Berg Road and State Route 299, where she had been staying with her ex-boyfriend Tyler Burrow.
Since law enforcement’s first response to investigate Blunt’s disappearance, multiple searches of the Berg Road property were conducted, including the use of highly specialized K-9 teams and ground searchers without success.
Blunt has not utilized any credit cards or contacted any of her loved ones since the disappearance a year ago, authorities said.
Interviews have been conducted by investigators with more than 30 individuals, including Tyler Burrow. Search warrants have been issued and served on vehicles, properties, cellular phones and electronic records as part of the ongoing investigation, the sheriff’s office reported.
Tips received throughout the investigation have led to thorough searches of locations in Humboldt and Trinity Counties, and Oregon.
At this point, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has followed up on all possible leads and is requesting the public’s help in this investigation. Investigators believe there are people in this community that know what happened to Blunt.
Blunt is 29 years old and described as a white female, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
She has a tattoo of a trident on her neck and a fishing hook on her left hand.
If anyone has any information, please contact Investigator Jennifer Taylor with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division.
To make an anonymous crime tip please call 707-268-2539 or email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
When herds began showing clinical signs consistent with HPAI on August 25, 2024, the dairy owners worked with their veterinarians and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, or CDFA, to submit samples to the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory network for preliminary determination.
The samples were then submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, where the test results were confirmed on Friday.
No human cases of HPAI have been confirmed in California related to this incident. The California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, is working in collaboration with CDFA and will work with local health departments to monitor any individuals who may be exposed to infected animals to ensure prompt clinical and public health interventions, and CDPH would provide official confirmation of any human cases associated with this incident.
“We have been preparing for this possibility since earlier this year when HPAI detections were confirmed at dairy farms in other states,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Our extensive experience with HPAI in poultry has given us ample preparation and expertise to address this incident, with workers’ health and public health as our top priorities. This is a tough time for our dairy farmers given the economic challenges they’re facing in a dynamic market, so I want to assure them that we are approaching this incident with the utmost urgency.”
According to CDPH and the Centers for Disease Control, this influenza virus is not considered a significant public health threat and the risk to humans is considered low. The primary concern is for dairy workers who come into close contact with infected dairy cows. As we have learned from recent cases in other states, these workers may be at risk of contracting avian influenza. Public health officials have experience working with agricultural partners and supporting farm workers working with infected poultry to prevent and monitor for infection.
CDPH recommends that PPE (masks, gloves, caps, face shields, and safety goggles) be worn by farm workers and emergency responders when working with animals or materials that are infected or potentially infected with avian influenza.
Earlier this summer, CDPH supported a one-time distribution of protective equipment for dairy farm workers and others handling raw dairy products, as well as for slaughterhouse and commercial poultry farmworkers. CDPH will continue to support dairies with confirmed positive cases with PPE.
Furthermore, affected farms can take advantage of a USDA grant that provides financial support for producers that supply PPE to employees. The CDC has confirmed four human cases of HPAI in dairy workers in other states since April 2024: one each in Texas and Colorado, and two in Michigan.
CDFA is working with public health officials and dairy owners to inform and monitor workers at affected dairies in California, and to assist the dairies with education and resources to protect their workers, including providing PPE.
For CDC guidance for employees and employers, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/avianflu/protect-yourself-h5n1.pdf.
California’s supply of milk and dairy foods is safe and has not been impacted by these events. As a precaution, and according to longstanding state and federal requirements, milk from sick cows is not permitted in the public milk supply. Also, pasteurization of milk is fully effective at inactivating the virus, so there is no cause for concern for consumers from milk or dairy products. Pasteurized milk and dairy items, as well as properly handled meat and eggs, continue to be safe to consume.
The affected dairies have been placed under quarantine on the authority of CDFA’s State Veterinarian, and enhanced biosecurity measures are in place. Sick cows are isolated and are being treated at the dairies; and healthy cows have been cleared to continue shipping milk for pasteurization.
Animal movement is being tracked and evaluated, as are other potential introduction pathways. Additional testing will be prioritized according to epidemiologic risk.
Background on HPAI in California
The HPAI virus has been detected in wild birds in the U.S. since 2022, with occasional transmission into domestic poultry or wild mammals in almost all states, including California. In March, 2024, the first US detection in cattle was confirmed in Texas, most likely due to a single spillover event from wild birds. Since that time, the USDA has linked new detections in cattle to the interstate and regional movement of infected or contaminated livestock, people and equipment.
CDFA has been engaged for years with an extensive network of private veterinarians, farmers and ranchers, backyard bird enthusiasts, and local, state and federal partners to actively monitor for this disease in livestock and poultry throughout California.
The department has taken steps to reduce the risk of entry of infected dairy cattle into the state, has extensive experience responding quickly and effectively to past detections of HPAI in poultry, and is fully prepared to respond to detections in cattle.
Most infected livestock and dairy cattle fully recover from an HPAI infection within a few weeks.
No California domestic poultry flocks are affected by the current incident. Avian influenza viruses continue to circulate normally among migratory and wild birds. Monitoring of both wild and domestic bird populations is performed on a continuous basis by multiple public agencies, as well as farmers and ranchers and private bird owners.
For the most up-to-date information regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in livestock in California, please visit CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 Virus in Livestock.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
“I am incredibly proud of the endless hours of behind the scenes work our Bureau of Forensic Services put into this case,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We are hopeful that this arrest will bring justice and closure to this devastating case. Thank you to our partners at Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. This arrest proves that when we work together, we get results.”
In 2021, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office sought assistance from the California Department of Justice’s Familial Search Program to generate new leads in the cold case of Nina Fischer.
Fischer had been sexually assaulted and murdered in her San Rafael home in November 1973, while her husband was at work.
The Familial Search Program worked for several months and provided a lead. This led to a three-year investigation and identified Michael Eugene Mullen from Idaho as the suspect.
On Aug. 14, 2024, Mullen was arrested by Marin County investigators, along with the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police.
He was taken to Lemhi County Jail and is now awaiting extradition to California for prosecution that will be handled by the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.
DOJ's Familial Search Program compares DNA from unsolved serious crimes against California’s Convicted Offender DNA Database to identify potential relatives of perpetrators.
If a potential relative is identified, and if additional investigation by DOJ’s Bureau of Investigation supports the genetic information, an investigative lead is provided to law enforcement.
DOJ’s Familial Search Program has provided investigative leads in 30 different cases since the genesis of the program in 2008.
The program uses technology and comparison data that is distinct from Forensic Investigated Genetic Genealogy.
The Familial Search Program is one of many programs within DOJ’s Bureau of Forensic Services, or BFS.
BFS is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art accredited laboratory system servicing 46 of the state's 58 counties.
BFS operates 10 regional crime laboratories for which forensic scientists collect, analyze, interpret, and compare physical evidence from suspected crimes.
DNA casework analysis is performed at the Jan Bashinski DNA Laboratory in Richmond, as well as regional laboratories located in Ripon, Fresno, Redding, Riverside, Sacramento and Santa Barbara.
The Jan Bashinski DNA Laboratory also houses the DNA Databank, Missing Persons DNA Program, Method Development, and the aforementioned Familial Searching program. BFS services are provided at no cost to law enforcement agencies in the 46 counties.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — A fire that began Wednesday in Chico’s Bidwell Park has grown massively over the past day, and authorities said Thursday they have arrested a Chico man they believe is responsible for causing the fire.
The Park fire was first reported just before 3 p.m. Wednesday off Upper Park Road in Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico.
On Wednesday night the fire had been reported to be more than 6,500 acres, an estimate that was up to more than 45,000 acres by Thursday morning.
By Thursday afternoon, officials said the fire was at 71,489 acres, with containment remaining at 3%.
At around 6 p.m., Cal Fire said the fire had grown to 124,949 acres, with no increased containment.
Fire officials said Thursday that the blaze continues to move quickly, with the priority placed on protecting communities. It has moved into Tehama County and is expected to impact the Cohasset area near Chico on Thursday night.
On Thursday, the Butte County District Attorney’s Office said a 42-year-old Chico man was arrested by Cal Fire arson investigators and booked on suspicion of intentionally starting the Park fire.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said in a Thursday afternoon briefing that Ronnie Dean Stout II was arrested at 2 a.m. Thursday after his home in a mobile home park was surrounded by investigators with Cal Fire and the District Attorney’s Office authorities, who told him to come out with his hands up over a loudspeaker.
“He did and he was arrested at that time,” said Ramsey.
Stout is being held on a no-bail arrest warrant issued by a judge early Thursday and will remain in the Butte County Jail without bail until he’s arraigned on Monday afternoon. Ramsey said charges haven’t yet been filed due to the ongoing investigation, but he expects Stout to be charged with a count of arson. Ramsey said additional counts could be added at that time.
Ramsey said the evidence that led authorities to Stout was that a witness saw Stout near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park. He was next to a vehicle, which turned out to belong to his mother.
The witness saw a fire start under the front left of the car, and felt Stout’s activity was strange because he was doing nothing other than watching the fire.
Ramsey said the witness saw Stout get into the vehicle and do something before getting back out and pushing the flaming vehicle down a 60-foot embankment into a gulley, where the Park fire began.
Authorities said Stout was then seen calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire.
Ramsey’s office said Cal Fire arson investigators responded immediately, secured the scene, and began to search for clues to Stout’s identity.
Stout has two prior strikes, Ramsey said. The first was for a conviction in Butte County in 2001 for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.
The Megan’s Law database shows that Stout is a registered sex offender.
Ramsey said Stout’s second conviction was in 2002 in Kern County for robbery with great bodily injury.
In 2003, as a result of the convictions, Stout was sent to state prison for 20 years. “We do not know how long he spent in state prison at this time but we do know he was out and up in Upper Bidwell Park when he was arrested for a DUI in 2020,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said the investigation is ongoing and anyone who has information or was in the
Alligator Hole area between the hours of noon and 3 p.m. Wednesday is encouraged to call Cal Fire investigations at 530-538-7888.
Evacuations and resources
The Park fire has prompted a broad swath of evacuations in Butte and Tehama counties. The evacuation areas can be seen here.
Officials continue to urge people to take evacuation orders seriously and to get out while it’s safe to do so.
Cal Fire said the Park fire displayed “dynamic fire activity overnight,” with winds remaining a factor and the temperature staying in the 80s.
The agency said three helicopters were available for night operations, and they took advantage and spent the night finding hot spots to drop water on.
Thursday saw more hot, dry weather with a steady breeze from the south again. Cal Fire said its Incident Management Team 3 was taking command of the fire on Thursday.
Resources assigned to the fire also grew by Thursday, with 1,153 personnel, six helicopters, 153 engines, 41 dozers, 10 water tenders, 40 crews and 22 other resources assigned.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
How to resolve AdBlock issue?