Deputies investigate cause of suspicious death after man's body found in HV field

Shasta County coroner's office has identified the body discovered Friday night in a field off Happy Valley Road.

The body was identified Saturday afternoon as John Clifford Roehm, 47. No further information was available.

Although it's unknown whether foul play was involved, Roehm's body was found around 7:30 p.m., about 25 yards off a dirt road north of White Oak Drive. Deputies called the scene "suspicious" in a news release.

Sgt. Jerry Bowles of the Shasta County Sheriff's Office could provide little information early Friday night about the discovery because detectives had not arrived at the scene to inspect Roehm's body.

It was not known around 8:45 p.m. if there were any signs of physical trauma to Roehm's body because it had not yet been inspected for apparent wounds, he said. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday, Teri Veazey said in a press release from the coroner's office.

With yellow crime tape across the entrance to the road, access was being limited to only law enforcement personnel Friday evening.

Bowles estimated that it might be hours before detectives could determine whether the man's death was a possible homicide.

Mike Fillmore, 47, of Redding said he came across the body while driving down the dirt road looking for his 15-year-old son, who was riding his bike in the area.

Fillmore said he spotted the body after he had stopped and gotten out of his vehicle about 300 yards up the rural dirt road.

The body, he said, was on its back and the man's legs were crossed like he had been sitting.

Fillmore said he then drove to a nearby residence and called 911.

Deputies said the body appeared to have been at the location for more than a day.

Anyone with information should call 245-6025.