June 13, 2023 - Alturas, CA – Modoc County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on May 22, 2023, the Modoc County Sheriff's Office received a call from a Collins Pines Timber Company Employee, regarding an abandoned vehicle in the upper Hill Units of California Pines area, in Modoc County. The timber company employee provided the sheriff's office with the license plate from the vehicle, along with a California Driver's License that was found in a wallet outside the vehicle. The information from the vehicle and California Driver's License came back to Rodney Lee Kinney, age 64, a reported missing person out of Del Norte County, California.

Rodney L. Kinney was reported missing on August 29, 2022, from his residence in Del Norte County. Kinney left his residence on August 10, 2022, with plans on going gold panning in Cave Junction, Oregon. When he did not return from his trip, his daughter reported him missing.

On May 25, 2023, Modoc County Sheriff's Deputies, along with members of the Modoc County Sheriff's Office Posse conducted a search of the area, finding what was believed to be skeletal human remains. Late last week with assistance from the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the skeletal remains were identified as those of Rodney Lee Kinney from Del Norte County, following DNA comparisons.

Through satellite imagery, investigators discovered Kinney's vehicle had been at that same location since August 23, 2022.

The skeletal remains provided no evidence of trauma. The cause and manner of death has been ruled undetermined. Kinney's family has been notified.

Source & photos: Modoc County Sheriff’s Office