Death Investigation

DATE & TIME: 10-29-2016 / 1501 hours

LOCATION: Near the Big Blue River, 1 ½ miles south of Holmesville          

OFFENSE: Death Investigation

CASE #: 2016-5849

On Saturday, October 29, 2016 at approximately 1501 hours, the Gage County Sheriff’s Office was notified by citizens who found a deceased person in a small copse of trees near the east riverbank of the Big Blue River, approximately 1 ½ miles south of Holmesville, Nebraska.  The location is a popular spot for people to go fishing and is off a minimum maintenance road.

Deputies responding to the scene found Vicente M. Rodriguez, 24 years old, however he had no signs of life and the deputies requested an Investigator be assigned to the case.  A vehicle belonging to Mr. Rodriguez was located on a county road approximately a quarter mile north of where he was found.  Mr. Rodriguez had been reported missing earlier that day to the Beatrice Police Department.

The Gage County Attorney’s Office was advised of the situation and a deputy county attorney responded to the scene to act as county coroner, as required by state statute.  The Gage County Attorney’s Office did not order an autopsy and determined the manner of death to be suicide.

An investigation into the incident did not uncover any suspicious circumstances or evidence of involvement of any other persons.  It was determined that Vicente M. Rodriguez had taken his own life, and his death was ruled to be a suicide.  Vicente Rodriguez had been missing since approximately 1530 hours on Thursday, 10-27-2016, however, he was not reported missing to the Beatrice Police Department until about 0908 hours on Saturday, 10-29-2016.

The Seneca, Kansas, Police Department was contacted and notified his mother of his death.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310

Investigator M. Ernst #90315