Alta Sierra homicide victim identified as 60-year old Scott William Cox

April 12, 2017 – On April 12th, 2017 the Sheriff’s Office successfully notified the next-of-kin for the homicide victim located at an Alta Sierra Home on Monday April 3rd. The victim has been positively identified as Scott William Cox; 60 years of age. Cox was believed to have been a resident at the home where his remains were found. The Sheriff’s Office, along with the District Attorney’s Investigations Unit, is continuing to investigate the case.

A second search warrant was obtained and executed at the residence yesterday April 11th and further items of evidence were removed. More information will be released when it becomes available.

Prior press releases:

Date: April 6, 2017

On April 5th, 2017 an autopsy was performed on the decedent. Following the autopsy it was concluded that the male victim died as a result of multiple gunshots to the head and had been deceased for several months. Investigators believe they know the identity of the deceased; however positive identification is still pending further dental comparison and notification of the next of kin. Investigators also quickly identified a person of interest in the victim’s homicide and have already conducted an interview with that person who will remain unnamed at this point. At this point the Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is any further threat to public safety. The investigation remains open and ongoing and further information will be released as it becomes available.

Prior release:

DATE: April 4, 2017

On April 3rd, 2017 at approximately 5:20 PM, deputies from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in the 17000 block of Virginia Way in Alta Sierra regarding a subject locating what they believed to be decomposed human remains. The neighbors discovered the remains after smelling a foul odor outside of the residence.

Once deputies were on scene, they discovered a trash bag at the rear of the residence that in fact contained human remains. Once the scene was secured, Detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit were called to the scene to investigate. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence early today, Detectives from both the

Sheriff’s Office and Investigators with the District Attorney’s Office processed the scene. Due to the condition of the body, detectives were unable to determine the identification of the remains.

The cause and manner of death is still under investigation pending the autopsy, which is scheduled for April 5th.