An investigation is underway in rural Esparto after a man was found fatally shot on his parent’s property, according to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.
Relatives discovered the body of Frank Ryan Estepa, 39, at about 11:45 a.m. Nov. 21 in the 24000 block of County Road 22A, sheriff’s Lt. Matt Davis said.
Davis said Estepa’s cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound, but detectives are still investigating whether the case is a homicide or involves another manner of death.
Detectives declined to release additional details, such as the location of Estepa’s gunshot wound and whether a weapon was recovered from the scene.
“Due to the active nature of the investigation, no additional information will be released at this time,” Davis said in a news release issued Monday.
Asked why it took the Sheriff’s Office nine days to publicly disclose the death, Davis said: “The incident was not immediately reported by the Sheriff’s Office in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation.”
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact sheriff’s dispatchers at 530-666-8282. Anonymous tips can be reported at 530-668-5248.
Estepa grew up in Winters and attended Winters High School. His sister has set up a GoFundMe campaign, with the goal of raising $10,000, to benefit Estepa’s wife and three children.
*Express Staff Writer Rick von Geldern contributed to this article.
