Two campers found slain on California beach

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- A soon-to-be married couple reported missing when they didn't return to their jobs as camp counselors were found shot to death on a beach, apparently in their sleep, authorities said.

The bodies of Lindsay Cutshall, 23, of Ohio, and Jason Allen, 26, of Michigan, were discovered in sleeping bags by sheriff's deputies who were rescuing a stranded hiker.

"They were shot in the head, presumably in their sleep because there was no disturbance at their camp site," Lt. Dave Edmonds said. The victims had valuables nearby that weren't taken, Edmonds said.

Police believe the couple had been camping in the Jenner area, about 75 miles up the coast from San Francisco, since Saturday. Authorities do not know when the couple was killed. Autopsies were planned for Friday.

The two were spending the summer working at Rock-N-Water, a Christian adventure camp in Coloma, in the Sierra foothills about 50 miles east of Sacramento.

They were reported missing Monday after they didn't return to camp. They were last seen Friday when they said they were going to visit friends and would get back on Sunday, sheriff's officials said.

Authorities said the two bodies appeared to have been on the beach for more than 24 hours when they were spotted by a helicopter crew sent to rescue a 17-year-old boy who had fallen about 50 feet while trying to retrieve a purse his girlfriend dropped.

The hiker, who was clinging to a rocky cliff when rescuers arrived, was pulled up by a paramedic attached to the helicopter by a 100-foot rope.

[DeltAlum]

California authorities are reportedly looking for a Wisconsin man. They did not give a reason as to why he is a suspect.

[adpialumcsuc]

Drifter Sought In Sonoma County Beach Killings
Wisconsin Man Wanted For Questioning In Deaths Of Camp Counselors

POSTED: 7:15 am PDT August 24, 2004
UPDATED: 9:37 am PDT August 24, 2004

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- A 21-year-old Wisconsin man was being sought for questioning in the mysterious shooting deaths of two camp counselors, according to a newspaper report.


Sonoma County detectives sent out a statewide alert Monday seeking Nicholas Edward Scarseth, of Chippewa Falls, Wis., the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported Tuesday.

"We have information he may have been in the area at the time of the incident," Sheriff's Lt. Dave Edmonds told the newspaper. "He could have information related to the case."

Edmonds wouldn't say why detectives are interested in Scarseth.

Scarseth was stopped on Friday by police in Fort Bragg - about 100 miles north of Jenner, where Lindsay Cutshall, 23, and her fiance, Jason Allen, 26, were found last week shot to death in their sleeping bags.

Sonoma County officials had sent out an alert for someone matching Scarseth's description. Fort Bragg police notified officials in Sonoma County on Sunday that they had talked with Scarseth. Edmonds said he did not know why Scarseth was stopped.


Cutshall, of Fresno, Ohio, and Allen, of Zeeland, Mich., were reported missing Aug. 16 after they failed to show up at a Christian adventure camp in Jenner, about 40 miles east of Sacramento. They had been working as whitewater rafting guides for the summer.

Their bodies were discovered Wednesday a few miles away.

Autopsies showed the victims had been shot through the head at close range. Authorities have ruled out a murder-suicide because no murder weapon was found, and there was no evidence of robbery or sexual assault.

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[Kevin]

They have a "person of interest" now in the case.

Hope it's the guy.

[adpialumcsuc]

They released the guy that was of interest and apologized to his family.

Couple Slain