burblestein
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Michael "Mike" Leon Pina
Date of birth: 24 October 1961
Place of birth: Grindstone Rancheria, Willows, CA
Ethnicity: Mixed Native American (Concow, Nomalacki, Wintun)
Markings: Tatto0 reading "Pina" on forearm
Other distinguishing characteristics: Left-handed, but played on a standard right-handed guitar.
Cause of death: Trauma impacts to the chest
While Mike was born in Willows, he was adopted by a Covelo family at age 2. He was a talented musician; he played a standard guitar left-handed (shades of Jimi Hendrix). He turned down a musical scholarship to college to work locally. When the Louisiana Pacific lumber mill in Covel0 closed, he began to scuffle to support his three kids and domestic partner.
On 3 May 1987, Native Americans from the adjacent Round Valley Reservation rioted in the tiny downtown of Covelo. Mike was arrested by three deputies on the 4th for rioting. He apparently was clubbed in the mouth, thrown to the ground by his hair, and tased several times, including a shot to the genitals. He was tried for inciting a riot, battery on police, fighting in public, and resisting arrest. After his acquittal, he sued the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office in federal court for $1.5 million, but settled for $40,000.
Following that beating, Mike's behavior became erratic and occasionally threatening as he fell into alcoholism. He claimed that deputies continued to harass him and his family, and that he didn't dare go out at night. He also became paranoid about being on "white man's land".
Beginning about 2009, Mike began to allow marijuana to be grown on his two acre allotment of tribal land. When he began to believe his grower partners were cheating him, he began destroying the pot plants on his property--an action that may have brought fatal retribution.
On 12 September 2014, Mike caught a ride with his sister "over the hill" on Forest Highway 7. He visited his girlfriend, (probably on Grindstone Rancheria) before catching his ride back home.
His body was found on 25 September 2014 on Indian Dick Road in the "white man's land" of the Mendocino National Forest. He had been dropped down an embankment into a creek bed. He was identified by his tattoo.
COLD CASE Mendocino: Five Years After His Body Was Found, Mike Piña’s Homicide Is Unsolved – Redheaded Blackbelt
This map shows just how desolate a location the body drop was:
Google Maps
Interestingly, Indian Dick Road branches off Forest Highway 7. Mike would have passed its entry both coming and going "over the hill". In fact, the Black Butte Store, where he and his sister ate upon their return trip, is about a hundred yards from that entry.
Date of birth: 24 October 1961
Place of birth: Grindstone Rancheria, Willows, CA
Ethnicity: Mixed Native American (Concow, Nomalacki, Wintun)
Markings: Tatto0 reading "Pina" on forearm
Other distinguishing characteristics: Left-handed, but played on a standard right-handed guitar.
Cause of death: Trauma impacts to the chest
While Mike was born in Willows, he was adopted by a Covelo family at age 2. He was a talented musician; he played a standard guitar left-handed (shades of Jimi Hendrix). He turned down a musical scholarship to college to work locally. When the Louisiana Pacific lumber mill in Covel0 closed, he began to scuffle to support his three kids and domestic partner.
On 3 May 1987, Native Americans from the adjacent Round Valley Reservation rioted in the tiny downtown of Covelo. Mike was arrested by three deputies on the 4th for rioting. He apparently was clubbed in the mouth, thrown to the ground by his hair, and tased several times, including a shot to the genitals. He was tried for inciting a riot, battery on police, fighting in public, and resisting arrest. After his acquittal, he sued the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office in federal court for $1.5 million, but settled for $40,000.
Following that beating, Mike's behavior became erratic and occasionally threatening as he fell into alcoholism. He claimed that deputies continued to harass him and his family, and that he didn't dare go out at night. He also became paranoid about being on "white man's land".
Beginning about 2009, Mike began to allow marijuana to be grown on his two acre allotment of tribal land. When he began to believe his grower partners were cheating him, he began destroying the pot plants on his property--an action that may have brought fatal retribution.
On 12 September 2014, Mike caught a ride with his sister "over the hill" on Forest Highway 7. He visited his girlfriend, (probably on Grindstone Rancheria) before catching his ride back home.
His body was found on 25 September 2014 on Indian Dick Road in the "white man's land" of the Mendocino National Forest. He had been dropped down an embankment into a creek bed. He was identified by his tattoo.
COLD CASE Mendocino: Five Years After His Body Was Found, Mike Piña’s Homicide Is Unsolved – Redheaded Blackbelt
This map shows just how desolate a location the body drop was:
Google Maps
Interestingly, Indian Dick Road branches off Forest Highway 7. Mike would have passed its entry both coming and going "over the hill". In fact, the Black Butte Store, where he and his sister ate upon their return trip, is about a hundred yards from that entry.
