-- UPDATE 8/26/2020 --
Bronson Moon Lewis Jr., age 18, surrendered peacefully into the custody of the Humboldt County Correctional Facility today, August 26, 2020.
Lewis Jr. was booked into the correctional facility this afternoon on charges of murder (PC 187). His bail is set at $750,000. Lewis Jr.’s surrender was facilitated through the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division and Lewis Jr.’s private attorney.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Julius Barthel Tripp.
The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the citizens of Hoopa, the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council and Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department for their dedication to justice and community safety, and their cooperation with the Sheriff’s Office to carry out a successful investigation and apprehension. We are grateful for these community partnerships that have led to the successful conclusion of this investigation.
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
-- PREVIOUS 8/25/2020 --
The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office has identified human remains recovered on August 20, 2020, as that of missing person Julius Barthel Tripp.
Tripp, age 42 of Hoopa, was reported missing to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on July 26, 2020.
A vehicle associated with Tripp was reportedly located on Highway 96 near Milepost Marker 18.10 by the California Highway Patrol and the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department on July 24. The agencies requested the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office after searching the surrounding area for Tripp with no results.
Through further investigation into this case, sheriff’s deputies determined Tripp’s disappearance to be suspicious.
On August 20, 2020, human remains were located in the area of Highway 96 between Hoopa and Weitchpec. The decedent was later positively identified as Tripp. A cause of death determination for Tripp is pending a forensic examination of his remains. However, based upon the investigation thus far, deputies determined Tripp’s manner of death to be homicide and have identified a primary suspect as 18-year-old Bronson Moon Lewis Jr.
A warrant has been issued for Lewis Jr.’s arrest on charges of murder (PC 187). Lewis Jr. is described as a Native American male, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, 120 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.
Anyone with information regarding Lewis Jr.’s whereabouts should contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.