Arrest Made in Oregon Homicide Case by Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office

John Kelley [Image from the Lane County OR Sheriff’s Department]

The suspect, identified as 49-year-old John Kelley from Eugene, Oregon, was found alone in a parked vehicle on the side of the highway by an MCSO deputy conducting a routine patrol. A subsequent records check revealed Kelley had an outstanding arrest warrant for homicide from Lane County, Oregon.

The Lane County Sheriff’s Office had issued a BoLO for Kelley yesterday morning after they discovered a deceased adult female with suspicious injuries when they responded to a residence on Hwy 36 south of Junction City, Oregon.

Kelley was described by the Lane County authorities as armed and dangerous. Community members were advised to avoid contact and immediately report any sightings to the police.

Following his arrest, Kelley was booked into the Mendocino County Jail, where he is being held without bail pending extradition to Oregon. The vehicle Kelley occupied at the time of his arrest has been seized and will be processed as evidence in the ongoing investigation.

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 04-25-2024 at 12:31 A.M., a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputy was working uniformed patrol in the 31000 block of Highway 128 in Yorkville, California. The Deputy observed a vehicle parked on the side of Highway 128 and contacted the occupant of the vehicle.

The sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as John Kelley, a 49-year-old male from Eugene, Oregon. A records check revealed an active warrant for Kelley’s arrest out of Lane County Oregon for homicide (187 PC). Kelley was ultimately placed under arrest without incident for his out-of-state homicide warrant. Kelley nor any Law Enforcement personnel were injured during the apprehension and arrest.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is currently assisting the Lane County Sheriff’s Office from Oregon with this investigation. The vehicle occupied by Kelley was seized as evidence to be processed at a later date.

Kelley was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held on a no-bail-status awaiting extradition back to the State of Oregon.