Watch CBS News

Man Charged With Murder After Missing Man Found Dead In Storage Unit

SONORA (CBS13) - A man was has been arrested for murder after deputies found the body of another man inside of a Tuolumne County storage unit.

On October 7, 2021, detectives investigating a missing person case searched Purely Storage in Sonora and found the body of a deceased male inside the storage unit, according to a statement from the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office. The victim was identified as 76-year-old Craig Arthur Hale of Twain Harte.

The suspect, Mathew Berrigan (credit: Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office)

During the course of their investigation, which lasted several weeks, detectives say they identified the suspect as 49-year-old Steven Mathew Berrigan. He has been charged with murder, stealing the victim's vehicle, and identity theft. He is being held in the Tuolumne County Dambacher Detention Center, the sheriff's department says.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective J. Lee at (209) 694-2955.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.