Classifying it as “suspicious,” the Oakdale Police Department is investigating the death of Michael Levi “Bobby” Fuller, 26, of Oakdale.
Fuller’s body was found behind 262 S. Yosemite Ave. on Wednesday morning, July 20 and police said they are not ruling out anything while they investigate the circumstances leading up to his death.
Shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Chris Ingham, the owner of Golden Arrow Archery, discovered the body lying on a picnic table and notified Oakdale Fire Department personnel, who were conducting a training exercise at the rear of the fire station next to the parking lot.
Emergency crews responded and personnel from Oak Valley Ambulance declared Fuller dead at the scene.
Investigators from the Oakdale Police Department and Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office had the area cordoned off Wednesday morning as police combed the area for evidence and any possible witnesses in the neighborhood.
“Right now there doesn’t look like any signs of foul play,” said Oakdale Detective Brian Shimmel at the scene. “We’ll know more later.”
Shimmel added that there were no visible signs of trauma to the body.
According to police officials, Fuller lived in the 500 block of South Third Avenue. The coroner’s office made notification to Fuller’s family members that morning.
“He and I were just having a smoke together last night,” said one South Third Avenue resident who came to the scene and did not want to be named. “He was talking about having trouble and being harassed by gang members in the area.”
Investigators confirmed that the police department received a call of a fight in the street on South Third Avenue on Tuesday evening but initial reports show that Fuller was not involved.
An autopsy was performed on Thursday morning, July 21 and did not show any injuries or reason for Fuller’s death. The cause of death is listed as pending the results of toxicology tests, which authorities said could take from four to six weeks.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Brian Shimmel of the Oakdale Police Department at (209) 845-3514.