June 21, 2021 at 8:30 AM Update:
On June 19, 2021 human remains were discovered buried on the property. A forensic recovery team from California State University at Chico (CSUC) responded and removed the remains on June 20, 2021. The remains were taken to the Placer County morgue where an autopsy will be performed. The identification of the victim and cause of death are still pending.
We also would like to take this opportunity to extend a special thank you to our local partners who assisted in this case including but not limited to the California Department of Justice Sacramento Crime Lab, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, CSU Chico, and Nevada County Public Works.
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On June 17, 2021 the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) received information regarding a possible homicide which had occurred at a property in the 26000 block of North Bloomfield Road in Nevada City. Detectives from the NCSO Major Crimes Unit, Special Investigation Unit, and District Attorney Investigators responded to investigate. After interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence a search warrant was authored for the property along with an arrest warrant for Russell H. Rippetoe, fifty-seven years old, from Barstow, California.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office investigators along with multiple units from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and executed the warrants at approximately 7:30 PM on June 17, 2021.
Mr. Rippetoe was arrested without incident and transported to the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility without incident. Investigators remain on scene and will be working with the California Department of Justice, and Nevada County Code Compliance for the foreseeable future. A special thank you to our local partners, particularly the Placer County Sheriff’s Office for the excellent assistance they continue to provide is deserved.
The victim’s name is being withheld until next of kin notification can be made.