Body discovered in manure at dairy farm on Arno and Hwy. 99 in South Sacramento County
A man’s body discovered in a manure pile Wednesday morning on a dairy farm between Elk Grove and Galt has prompted a homicide investigation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said.
A worker for B&J’s Dairy, which sits along Highway 99 on the 9900 block of Arno Road, discovered the body around 10 a.m. while working to turn the pile, according to Sgt. Tess Deterding, a spokeswoman for the department.
According to Deterding, the manure and water, which was collected over several weeks, was being turned as part of the dairy’s normal operations when the body was found.
How long the man’s body sat in the composting pile remains a mystery, Deterding said. The body showed “no signs of apparent trauma,” she said, adding the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office would perform an autopsy and Sheriff’s detectives would conduct a homicide investigation. Deterding said detectives have already determined the man was not a missing person from Sacramento County.
To turn voluminous animal waste into a valuable byproduct for fertilizing crops, farms such as dairies often pool manure with water to encourage organisms to break down the waste. The piles are turned often to allow for proper aeration.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call deputies at 916-874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Tips can also be submitted confidentially through the P3 Tips website and app. There is a reward of up to $1,000.
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 3:26 PM.
