Update: Body Found At Elsey’s Pond Identified

Update at 3:25 p.m.: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s officials report the man’s body found at Elsey’s Pond off Sullivan Creek near Mono Way in Sonora was identified through his tattoos. He is Zachariah Hickie, 36, a transient. Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson reports his next of kin has been notified and the cause of death is pending autopsy results. News story about results are here.

Original post at 12:10 p.m.: Sonora, CA — An investigation is underway into a suspicious death at Elsey’s Pond off Mono Way in Sonora.

It is near the location of the early morning vegetation fire we reported on at Sullivan Creek. The Sheriff’s Office reports that it is unknown at this time if the two incidents are in any way connected.

Sgt. Andrea Benson says law enforcement was requested to make a welfare check this morning on an individual that had not been seen for several days. He had been living down by the creek. The Deputies located the body of a man who matches the description of the person in question. Limited information is currently available. When identification is confirmed and next of kin is notified, the Sheriff’s Office plans to release more details.