A 26-year-old Eureka man, Root Harvest Birimisa, was launched from Humboldt County Correctional Facility in the future earlier than being taken into custody once more in Mendocino County following a visitors cease. A search of his towed van by officers three days after the cease revealed the physique of his mom, 53-year-old Christine Ann Randolph. It’s being investigated as a suspicious loss of life by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Workplace.
An post-mortem was carried out for Randolph Friday. Outcomes are pending a toxicology report that might take 4 to 6 weeks, in accordance an e-mail from MCSO. A Friday launch from the company notes that blood alcohol and toxicology evaluation will probably be a part of the post-mortem.
“There’s an energetic Coroner’s Investigation underway and to date the loss of life is taken into account a suspicious loss of life pending official post-mortem findings,” mentioned Gregory L. Van Patten, a public data officer for MCSO in an e-mail when requested if the loss of life is being investigated as a murder.
Birimisa was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on Oct. 8, in the future after being launched from the Humboldt County correctional facility. In response to data from the Humboldt County courtroom system, Birimisa was launched Oct. 7 on bail at $75,000. He was being held for a September arrest.
The Humboldt County District Lawyer’s workplace filed felony fees in opposition to Birimisa on Sept. 25, alleging he dedicated a lewd act upon a toddler and assault involving an eight-year-old Sufferer Doe, together with alleged housebreaking.
Officers discovered Randolph after looking out the van, a Toyota Sienna reportedly shared by Birimisa and Randolph, which was at a towing enterprise in Willits. The van was taken to the towing enterprise Oct. 8 following the Ukiah California Freeway Patrol visitors cease that led to the arrest of Birimisa. The van was searched by MCSO detectives and Eureka Police Division officers Oct. 11, in line with the MCSO launch.
“The inside of the Toyota Sienna van was filled with a big variety of belongings to incorporate clothes, baggage and residing provides. Investigators started eradicating the belongings and subsequently situated a deceased feminine grownup who was situated in a bit of concaved flooring which was hid by the big variety of belongings,” a launch from Mendocino County Sherriff’s workplace mentioned.
The Eureka Police Division initiated a lacking particular person’s investigation Oct. 9, in line with the discharge. It says investigators realized Randolph’s household had turn into involved for her security after studying of Birimisa’s arrest, that the pair had been identified to be touring collectively.
The preliminary examination for Birimisa’s fees in Humboldt County is ready for Nov. 6. He’s at the moment being held in Mendocino County Jail with a complete bond quantity of $680,000, in line with the Mendocino County reserving logs. Birimisa’s subsequent courtroom date is Oct. 19 in Mendocino.
The Friday launch from MCSO notes that officers from a variety of North Coast businesses assisted within the effort. These with data are requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Workplace tip line at 707-234-2100 or the WeTip nameless crime reporting hotline at 800-782-7463.
Sage Alexander will be reached at 707-441-0504
