LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that it is investigating a death at the county’s warming shelter.
The shelter is located at 1111 Whalen Way in Lakeport, in a facility that formerly served as Lake County’s juvenile hall.
On Monday, the sheriff’s office responded to the shelter for a coroner investigation, said Lauren Berlinn, the sheriff’s spokesperson.
Berlinn said the male decedent was last seen by shelter staff around 2 a.m. Monday.
He was found deceased in his bed when shelter staff made their morning rounds at approximately 6:30 a.m., Berlinn said.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, said Berlinn, who noted that there are no signs of foul play.
“As a shelter resident, the staff knew the decedent to be respectful and rule-abiding. Lake County Sheriff’s Office is actively working to locate the next of kin, so at this time, the decedent's identity will not be released,” Berlinn said.
In July 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the Oroville-based Elijah House to run an emergency COVID-19 shelter at the former juvenile hall, as Lake County News has reported.
Elijah House stopped operating the shelter in September 2022.
On Jan. 24, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the Sunrise Special Services Foundation to run a warming shelter at the facility for three months.
The contract has been renewed since then for continued operations, with Redwood Community Services expected to take over operations later this year and continue to operate it to provide housing for homeless individuals.
Berlinn told Lake County News that this is the first time the sheriff’s office has responded to the shelter for a coroner investigation.
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Authorities investigate death at warming shelter
- Elizabeth Larson
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