Deputies say man arrested in Sacramento will face Nevada County homicide charges

A Grass Valley man who was arrested last week in Sacramento is suspected in the July homicide of a man whose body was found on the side of a road in Nevada County, authorities said.

Adrian Aaron Aaby, 48, of Grass Valley, was discovered dead July 21 along Banner Quaker Hill Road in Nevada City. Detectives with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit determined Aaby was the victim of a homicide.

Investigators later identified Damon Brice Abraham, 49, also of Grass Valley, as a person of interest and warrants were obtained, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.

On Aug. 7, detectives executed the search at his residence, though Abraham was not present. That same day, California State Parks officers arrested Abraham in Sacramento and he was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges including possession of a controlled substance and felony gun possession. Jail records indicate Abraham was prohibited from having a firearm, but it was unclear why.

Abraham remains in custody and is expected to be transferred to Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City after his appearance in Sacramento Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon.

This story was originally published August 13, 2025 at 11:10 AM.