UNSOLVED CA - James Pascual Rodriguez, 30, died of trauma, Peaceful Valley Road, Placer Co., August 2021

[Justice4James]

Greetings from Pennsylvania,

My Name is Dee and I am the Mother by blood, not birth (Aunt) of a young man recently Murdered in California Aug. 2021.

This is my FIRST time here so please feel free to ask questions that may help with advice.

Please Do not fault me for my lack of knowledge-I’m Learning.

and….Please help guide me so I do NOT make a blunder that can jeopardize our case/investigation.

I have tons of questions.

Thank You in advance
Auntde

 

[TTF14]

I don't know the answer, but welcome to WS and I'm so sorry for your loss .

 

[Justice4James]

I don't know the answer, but welcome to WS and I'm so sorry for your loss .

Thank you.

 

[rosesfromangels]

I'm sorry for the loss of your loved one.
If you so choose, you may become a "Verified Insider" on this case. It will enable you to answer questions without having to provide a media source for the information. Here's the link to get started, if you so choose:
Verification Process for Professional or Insider Posters

If you can give us some other details about the case (*do not* offer up any details that would compromise the investigation, or that law enforcement has asked you to keep confidential), I'm sure folks here will offer up suggestions to try to help.

Sincere condolences to you and your family,
Roses

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Justice4James]

Thank you. I have submitted

 

[Laughing]

@Justice4James , can you post a link to a news media article about the death?

So sorry to learn of your loss!

 

[rosesfromangels]

Is this the case?
Investigators trying to find out where Grass Valley man was before he was killed, left in canal

 

[Justice4James]

Thank you. I apologize i thought I did. Here is the basics so far.

thank you again.


HOMICIDE PLACER CO SO 21-7693 CS 21-024
August 17, 2021
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of 30 year old James Pascual Rodriguez out of Grass Valley, CA. James body was located in a canal in Colfax, CA on August 5, 2021. Rodriguez’s body was partially clothed and his feet were bound together. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was trauma related.



Rodriguez frequented the North San Juan area of Nevada County in addition to Grass Valley. Detectives from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office are seeking any witnesses with information regarding Rodriguez death or recent events involving Rodriguez, which may be related to his murder.

 

[Justice4James]

Is this the case?
Investigators trying to find out where Grass Valley man was before he was killed, left in canal

Thank you. I apologize i thought I did. Here is the basics so far.

thank you again.


HOMICIDE PLACER CO SO 21-7693 CS 21-024
August 17, 2021
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of 30 year old James Pascual Rodriguez out of Grass Valley, CA. James body was located in a canal in Colfax, CA on August 5, 2021. Rodriguez’s body was partially clothed and his feet were bound together. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was trauma related.



Rodriguez frequented the North San Juan area of Nevada County in addition to Grass Valley. Detectives from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office are seeking any witnesses with information regarding Rodriguez death or recent events involving Rodriguez, which may be related to his murder.

 

[Justice4James]

Yes. There are 3 thought process so far.

1) He was Murdered by a serial killer (look up “Everyone Counts” about Auburn California

2) He knew the Murders

3) It was completely random.

from all the research I have done, it was not #2. But since I dont know the area, I dont know the players. All I have is a street name and I can not find a reference to it anywhere, the 3 people I found with the name are not the person.

From what I read California does not hand down severe murder sentences either.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Last November (2020), "Marijuana Murder Mayhem" in Grass Valley.
7 People Arrested After Drug Deal Turns Deadly In Grass Valley

 

[rosesfromangels]

Yes. There are 3 thought process so far.

1) He was Murdered by a serial killer (look up “Everyone Counts” about Auburn California

2) He knew the Murders

3) It was completely random.

from all the research I have done, it was not #2. But since I dont know the area, I dont know the players. All I have is a street name and I can not find a reference to it anywhere, the 3 people I found with the name are not the person.

From what I read California does not hand down severe murder sentences either.

Yes, California is one of the more lenient states related to murder convictions. Typically serve 1/2 the sentence + credit for good behavior etc.

A few questions, answer whatever you can or feel free not to answer if it is just too difficult right now.
1) What type of work did James do?
2) How long had he lived in Grass Valley?
3) Did he have substance abuse problems, and did he have an arrest record?
4) Did anyone he hung out with regularly have a substance abuse problem, or had an arrest record?
5) Did he owe anyone a substantial amount of money?
6) Had he recently broken up with anyone, and was it an unpleasant breakup?
7) Had he had any fights/disagreements with anyone recently?
8) Had he been accused of doing something he didn't do?
9) Had he accidentally caused anyone harm in the past?
10) Had his father accidentally caused anyone harm in the past?
11) Did he tend to get in arguments with people (strangers) at times?
12) Would he have anyone who would want to harm him? (don't name them - tell law enforcement)
13) What had he been doing the two days leading up to his death? Who had he been hanging out with?

Those are my questions to start with. Please only answer what you can right now, and do *not* disclose anything that law enforcement has asked you not to talk about. We have all sorts of people who follow these posts, and not all of them are the good guys. We'll do our best to come up with helpful ideas, or do research for you.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Sillybilly]

Canal Mystery Deepens In Placer County

---

COLFAX (CBS13) — Authorities have identified the man whose body was found with both feet tied together in a Placer County canal last week.

On Wednesday, the coroner’s office identified the man as 30-year-old Grass Valley resident James Pascual Rodriguez. While the coroner determined Rodriguez died of trauma, no further details about his death have been released.

---
Investigators trying to find out where Grass Valley man was before he was killed, left in canal

---
Placer County Sheriff seeks information on body found in Colfax canal

Witnesses with information regarding recent events involving Rodriguez or his death are encouraged to contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-AA-CRIME (1-800-222-7463) or submit information online at crimealert.org/sitemenu.aspx?P=unsolved&ID=609. Tips can be submitted anonymously. Individuals who submit information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.

 

[Sillybilly]

Our new WS member @Justice4James has already been verified as a case insider. We'll leave it to our VI to share what their relationship is to James and to the case.

Our VI is not required to provide links to support the information they provide in relation to the case or to any knowledge they have about it. Please treat Justice4James with respect at all times and do not argue with them or press them for information they are not able to share or may not wish to share.

Please Welcome Justice4James to Websleuths. Of course we all wish it was under different circumstances, but hopefully they will find some peace, comfort and ultimately resolution in what happened to James.

 

[Trinitee]

Welcome to Websleuths @Justice4James. My heartfelt condolences to you and all of James’ loved ones.

 

[Cryptic]

Yes, California is one of the more lenient states related to murder convictions. Typically serve 1/2 the sentence + credit for good behavior etc.

That practice may have recently changed.

Currently, people convicted of violent felonies in California must serve 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

I dont know how "set in stone" the 85% number is and whether or not there are possibilities of creative math via "good time" credits etc that lead to earlier releases etc.

 

[rosesfromangels]

@OldCop, if you hav time, could you pop in to this thread and offer your thoughts? Thanks if possible.

Roses

 

[JrzyGirl70]

Apparently James is not the first victim found in this waterway. There have been six suspicious deaths since 2009. There are some private investigators working the case, have you been in touch with them?

Canal Mystery Deepens In Placer County

 

[Justice4James]

Yes, California is one of the more lenient states related to murder convictions. Typically serve 1/2 the sentence + credit for good behavior etc.

A few questions, answer whatever you can or feel free not to answer if it is just too difficult right now.


1) What type of work did James do?
James did odd jobs and or worked part time at places.

2) How long had he lived in Grass Valley?
James moved out to California around 2013. Did not know a soul. He eventually settled in the North San Juan area. He has been in the Grass Valley area for approx past 8 mos.

3) Did he have substance abuse problems, and did he have an arrest record?
James was a pot smoker. He did not use other heavy drugs. I have not located any criminal records under his name.

4) Did anyone he hung out with regularly have a substance abuse problem, or had an arrest record?
Yes he was trying to help a “Tweeker”, I believe he never would have become so entangled with her except for the fact she was also originally from Pennsylvania..
she is <name redacted>. There are articles on her setting fires AND oddly enough she was the “fiancee” of a man who in 2014 was kidnapped and beaten in California.


5) Did he owe anyone a substantial amount of money? No, James lived very simple. He was never able to maintain a rental/home on his own. He lived in a tent.

6) Had he recently broken up with anyone, and was it an unpleasant breakup?
not that I am aware of.

7) Had he had any fights/disagreements with anyone recently?
James had a male who was harassing him, stalking him and James had to keep moving his camp spot because if him. No one seems to know who the male is. James was also involved with an altercation at his work from this male. At which time I was the video showed James as the aggressor, and he was fired. Of course the video is not available. The manager claims James was intimidating to staff and customers. That is not JAMES. James biggest fault was not knowing when to shut his mouth. But I never saw or had a problem with him stepping to people. He was always the lanky one who people would jump and steal his things.

8) Had he been accused of doing something he didn't do? Yes. Someone mentioned a vehicle was stolen and parked by where James had his camp. The owner accused James of taking it.


9) Had he accidentally caused anyone harm in the past? Not that I am aware of. James was a truly good soul, loved by many. His mouth would get him in trouble, but people who knew him knew he could become annoying.

10) Had his father accidentally caused anyone harm in the past? No.
His father lives in Pennsylvania and is useless.

11) Did he tend to get in arguments with people (strangers) at times? Yes he respond to people if in a negative situation. James did not initiate the conversations, but usually did not know when to shut up and walk away.

12) Would he have anyone who would want to harm him? (don't name them - tell law enforcement)
I believe the man who was stalking him. I have provided all information I uncovered to law enforcement.

13) What had he been doing the two days leading up to his death? Who had he been hanging out with? That is a question no one can answer.

Those are my questions to start with. Please only answer what you can right now, and do *not* disclose anything that law enforcement has asked you not to talk about. We have all sorts of people who follow these posts, and not all of them are the good guys. We'll do our best to come up with helpful ideas, or do research for you.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Justice4James]

Thank you. I put my answers in your thread.

Are you aware of any “special circumstance” laws in California that mandate a harsher sentencing?

Do you know if only being back to California from PA less then a year grants any special circumstances for being a Pennsylvania resident Murdered in another state?

I plan to go out to California to advocate for James. Do you have any special tips/suggestions on best protocol when interacting with the “homeless” so they do not see me as a threat? I do not want to harass them or check if they have warrants on them. I just want information they may have on what actually happened.

last is do you have any suggestions for the best tools to use in keeping his case in the communities eye? I made bright T shirts, making plastic weather proof tip cards and looked into a mass mailing- but the mailing was way out of my fundraising budget.

thank you

update: Question? When James was alive I had a power of attorney to be able to interact on his behalf when requested. I/we did not know a POA becomes worthless once the person passes. I have yet to find a will…but keep looking.

James’s birth parents were not “parents,” I am his maternal aunt.

Since my POA is now useless, his mother has removed me from handling James’s arrangements and is now spinning her web of her “poor me” side show. Which makes me actually physically nauseated.

I am in Pennsylvania, James was murdered in California, are there any forms I can file? Actions I can take to regain control of James’s world? With all of the suspicious deaths and negative remarks on the skill set the area has with investigations, I did not want James’s cremated in case he/I needed a private autopsy.

Now that his “birth” mother is considered next of kin, all that has changed and James is due to be cremated and mailed to Pennsylvania like an ebay purchase.

Yes, it upsets me and breaks my heart, which in turn makes me bitter, which in turn makes me feel helpless, which in turn makes me feel like James is once again not worth their time…
Yes it makes me feel like his parents never cared in life and now will do the minimum to find his murderers.
My circle knows the facts, but People on the outside feel like I am to involved with finding James’s murderers… My God!! I have just lost a child!! How do I make them understand that?
Thank you… I am not lazy, I have been working in digging up leads etc. I research everything before I present it to law enforcement, But for the life of me I can not find or be provided the information I request help with above.
Thank you again.