On Jan. 8 at approximately 2 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies were dispatched to a report of a dead body under the Trinity River Bridge, at Highway 96 and Tish Tang Rd. 

HCSO Deputies and Hoopa Valley Tribal Police officers responded to the scene and located the reporting party. Deputies located a male subject in thick brush below the bridge. The subject had been deceased for what appeared to be several days. Investigators from the Humboldt County Major Crimes Division and a Humboldt County Deputy Coroner were then called to the scene to conduct a death investigation. The deceased male was later identified as Paul Dean James Jr., 42, of Weitchpec.

James was frequently seen in the Hoopa Valley; however, he hadn’t been seen since December 30.  A welfare check BOLO (“be on the lookout”) for was issued on Jan. 7, when James had not been seen for a week. His manner of death has not been determined at this time and the case is still under investigation.

A forensic autopsy will be conducted by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. More information will be released after the autopsy is conducted.  

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.