Man And Child Found Dead In Orchard

"SAN JOACHIM COUNTY, CA — The body of a man and child were discovered in a car on a levee near Interstate 5 and Manthey Road around 8 a.m. today, the apparent victims of a murder-suicide, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s officials reported.

"During a routine check of area farm land, a security guard discovered an unresponsive man in a parked car. Unable to contact the driver, he called the sheriff’s office.

"When deputies arrived, they found a man in the front seat dead from an apparent gunshot wound, sheriff’s spokesman Les Garcia said. Further investigation into the vehicle revealed a small child in the backseat area, also dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

"`It appears to be a murder-suicide,` Garcia said. `We’re trying to piece together what occurred and understand what occurred.`

"The levee was located in the middle of an orchard adjacent to Dell’Osso Farms, near J.B. Farms Fruit Stand off South Manthey Road.

"Investigators hoped to release the identities of the victims later today after making family notification, Garcia said."

From TracyPress.com...