What was initially classified as “suspicious circumstances” that had residents of a Granite Bay neighborhood sheltering in place early Monday has become a homicide investigation, with two people reportedly dead and one man in custody, according to authorities.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Department said 911 dispatchers received a call shortly after 8 a.m. reporting suspicious circumstances at a home near Lou Place and Oak Leaf Way in Granite Bay. Details of the incident were not released, but law enforcement issued a shelter-in-place order for residents in the immediate area as the investigation unfolded.
Shortly after arriving at the scene, deputies discovered that a man had barricaded himself inside the home.
“We were called to a home on Lou Place shortly after 8 a.m. today for a report of suspicious circumstances. We gathered information that led us to believe a man in his mid-30s was inside the home,” the department said in an afternoon update.
Deputies attempted to make initial contact with the man and brought in additional resources to manage the situation.
“Our special enforcement team was called out along with our crisis negotiators. Around 11:45 this morning, a man surrendered and was detained,” the report released shortly after 3:30 p.m Monday afternoon.
After entering the home, deputies found a man and woman dead. Investigators remained on scene Monday afternoon, continuing their work with assistance from the Placer County Coroner’s Office. The two individuals, whose names have not been released, are being investigated as homicide victims.
Officials said they believe the suspect in custody is responsible for the deaths and that there is no further threat to the community.
“We are investigating their deaths as a homicide. It is believed the man we detained is the sole suspect,” the department said.
Update:𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨
On Wednesday, Oct. 23 the Placer County District Attorney’s Office announced that 36-year-old Josef Meinzer, the suspect from the recent double homicide in Granite Bay, appeared in court for his arraignment on murder charges.
The charges stem from the aforementioned double homicide that took place in Granite Bay on Oct. 21. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident and submitted the case to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office leading to the filing of the current murder charges.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the two people killed as Janell Meinzer, 67, who is reportedly the suspects mother and his brother Lance Meinzer, 45.
The defendant appeared in court and a public defender was appointed to him. The arraignment was continued to the next court date which was scheduled for Nov. 6 in Department 20 at 8:30. The defendant is currently held at the Placer County jail without bail. @followers
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