EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities have confirmed the death of a south Sacramento man who had been missing for several weeks. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced that the deceased, identified as 75-year-old Somboun Sayasane, was found in a remote wooded area near Placerville. His roommate and the roommate’s father have been detained, facing charges connected to his demise.
Somboun Sayasane was last observed on December 26 near his residence on 41st Avenue in south Sacramento. Following his disappearance, authorities initiated an at-risk missing person alert due to discovered items such as his dentures and medication, which indicated he might be in peril owing to previous health complications that required medical attention.
Investigations into Sayasane’s mysterious absence took a grim turn as detectives uncovered suspicions of foul play. “Further investigations revealed signs of suspicious circumstances, leading us to pivot to a homicide inquiry,” stated Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. By Thursday, search efforts led to the grim discovery of Sayasane’s body a few hundred yards from Old Toll Road.
According to officials, there was an absence of firearm use in Sayasane’s death. The circumstances under which his body was located suggested that he was victim to a homicide. The Sheriff’s Office has implicated his roommate in the murder, while the roommate’s father is alleged to have assisted in concealing the body.
The murder suspect has been identified as Benjamin Dougherty, who is now facing murder charges. His father, Robert Dougherty, has been charged as an accessory. Both individuals were apprehended on Thursday in Petaluma and have since been incarcerated at the Sacramento County Jail.
Before his tragic end, Sayasane was cherished by his family and friends for his infectious laughter and his artistic gifts. The local community expressed shock over the incident. A neighbor residing off Old Toll Road, Andrew Osborne, described the terrain where Sayasane was found as steep and densely forested, noting that nothing like this had ever occurred there to his knowledge.
The section of Old Toll Road where the body was discovered remained closed as deputies continued their investigation into this alarming case.
This tragic event has stirred discussions about the safety of elderly individuals living with non-family members and the importance of community awareness in monitoring vulnerable populations. Sayasane’s untimely death serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and the crucial role law enforcement plays in protecting at-risk individuals.