SONOMA COUNTY (KRON) — A Sonoma man was arrested Monday on suspicion of murder after a large barrel containing the body of a deceased male was left in front of the Sonoma’s city hall Friday night, according to police.
On March 20, 2015 at 11:48 PM, a subject called the Sonoma Police Department to report illegal dumping in the Sonoma Plaza, said Sonoma Chief of Police Bret Sackett. The subject reported that within 15 minutes prior to their call, someone had discarded a barrel and couch cushion in front of City Hall in Sonoma, he said.
Deputies from the Sonoma Police Department arrived on scene and found a 55-gallon plastic barrel covered with a blue plastic tarp, Sackett said, on which dried blood was on the outside of the barrel. Upon further inspection, he said, deputies found a deceased adult male inside.
Deputies from the Sonoma Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office immediately cordoned-off the area and summoned detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes and Crimes Scene Investigations Units, said Sackett. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Detective Coroner responded, as well, and took custody of the deceased.
Working from leads, deputies and detectives went to the Acacia Grove Mobile Home Park on Highway 12 in Sonoma Valley, he said. At a residence within the mobile home park, deputies established the location where the man had apparently been killed; a location which is in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County, said Sackett. Deputies secured the residence pending a search warrant.
Two men were detained in connection with the homicide, said Sackett. They were interviewed by detectives and one was subsequently arrested, he added.
Christopher McNatt, 40, from Sonoma, was booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of murder, Sackett said. McNatt is being held without bail and is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday.
The deceased’s identification is being withheld until proper next of kin notifications can be made, he said. Because this is an open and on-going case, details are limited at this point, Sackett said.
Sackett stressed, there is no danger to the public, and the weapon used during this crime has been recovered.
Anyone with information pertaining to this case is encouraged to call the county’s tip line at 707-565-2185. Callers can leave a message anytime and remain anonymous.