The Sheriff’s Office was contacted in early February of 2018, about a missing person, Khadijah Britton. During the initial investigation Sheriff’s Deputies’ investigation revealed that Khadijah was possibly kidnapped several days before from a friend’s house. Sheriff’s Deputies spoke to witnesses who advised that Negie Fallis arrived at the location, armed with what appeared to be a small derringer pistol, and demanded his girlfriend, Khadijah Britton, exit the residence and speak with him. Witnesses indicated Khadijah exited the residence where a physical altercation occurred between them before they both entered a black Mercedes sedan and left the location. Khadijah has not been contact with family since that time.

There is a community Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1911095978933042/ hosted by Khadijah’s family members.

Anyone with any information relating to Khadija’s disappearance or whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 707-234-2100.

At time of disappearance, Khadijah was:

• Age: 23 years-old
• Height: 5 feet 8 inches
• Weight: 180 pounds
• Hair: Brown
• Eye color: Brown
• MCSO #: 2018-04245

On April 8, 2014 at about 1500 hours, The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Willits Police Department regarding a missing persons report for Barbara Lea Norton that occurred in the unincorporated area of Willits. A friend initially reported Norton missing to the Willits Police Department after not having seen Norton for about a week.

During the course of the investigation, MCSO Detectives discovered Norton’s cell phone, purse, and ID were inside her residence. No other indication of anything suspicious or suggesting foul play was found. Detectives and Deputies searched the surrounding area for any sign of Norton, to no avail.

MCSO Detectives learned from neighbors, friends, and a family member who lived on the same property, that Norton was known to disappear for several days/weeks by herself. However, Norton was always known to bring her purse and cell phone with her. Norton was also reported to be stressed she had no money, no food, and her last text message (04/04/14) to her friend was “take care”.

Norton does not have a vehicle, is known to walk on foot, and is described as being 53 years old, 5’1”, weighing about 130lbs with gray eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with any information relating to Norton’s disappearance of whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office’s Tip-Line at 707-234-2100 or the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.

• Age at time of disappearance: 53 years-old
• Height: 5 feet 1 inches
• Weight: 130 pounds
• Hair: Brown
• Eye color: Gray

On September 2, 2005 the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a missing persons report in regards to the disappearance of Michael William Desmet. It was reported Desmet was with Joseph Clarence Wilma Jr when the pair left Humboldt County in Wilma’s vehicle. The pair had a destination of Wilma’s Covelo, California property and they were never heard from again.

On April 5, 2007 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a person who had found a human jaw bone on a secluded piece of wilderness land near Wilma’s property. A search of the area near the jaw bone resulted in the discovery of Wilma’s vehicle and a human femur bone. A forensic examination of the jaw and femur bone showed them as being Wilma.

Detectives have followed up on several leads and thus far Desmet is still missing under suspicious circumstances. Detectives have classified Wilma’s death as homicide and believe Desmet is also the victim of homicide despite the recovery of any human remains.

Anyone with information in regards to the possible whereabouts or disappearance of Desmet are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

• Age at time of disappearance: 35 years-old
• Height: 6 feet 1 inch
• Weight: 200 pounds
• Hair: Blonde
• Eye color: Greene
• MCSO Case#: 07-1069

On September 2, 2005, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a missing persons report in regards to the disappearance of Joseph Clarence Wilma Jr. It was reported Wilma was with Michael William Desmet when the pair left Humboldt County in Wilma’s vehicle. The pair had a destination of Wilma’s Covelo, California property and they were never heard from again.

On April 5, 2007, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a person who had found a human jaw bone on a secluded piece of wilderness land near Wilma’s property. A search of the area near the jaw bone resulted in the discovery of Wilma’s vehicle and a human femur bone. A forensic examination of the jaw and femur bone showed them as being Wilma.

Detectives have followed up on several leads and thus far Desmet is still missing under suspicious circumstances. Detectives have classified Wilma’s death as homicide and believe Desmet is also the victim of homicide despite the recovery of any human remains.

Anyone with information in regards to the circumstances of Wilma’s disappearance or murder are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

• Age at time of disappearance: 53 years-old
• Height: 6 feet 1 inch
• Weight: 220 pounds
• Hair: Brown
• Eye color: Hazel
• MCSO Case#: 07-1069

On the evening of August 9, 2003, Chris Robert Giauque went to the Spyrock Road area of Mendocino County and met with an associate near the Iron Peak lookout. This area is located north of the town of Laytonville, California.

Chris Giauque was on probation for cultivation of marijuana and reportedly left his vehicle, a 1994 blue Toyota extra cab pickup truck at this location as he did not want to be seen in his truck on the property that he and the associate owned on Simmerly Road in Covelo, California.

Reportedly, the associate gave Chris Giauque a ride into and out of the property. Chris Giauque was reportedly last seen in this area around 9:00 PM. It is possible that Chris Giauque became a robbery-homicide victim.

Chris Giauque had made the trip to pick up a substantial amount of cash and it was possible that numerous people knew of the pending business transaction.

Chris Giauque’s pickup truck was located on August 10, 2003 approximately 50 miles north of Spyrock Road and 3 miles south of Myers Flat on the Avenue of the Giants near Elk Creek Road in Humboldt County. This location is north of Salmon Creek where Chris Giauque resided.

To this date, Chris Giauque’s body has not been located and his father (Bob Giauque) has established a website to aid in the investigation. The website located at chrisreward.org contains additional information on the circumstances of Chris Giauque’s disappearance and an established reward.

The investigation into Chris Giauque’s disappearance is being handled by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information in regards to the disappearance of Chris Giauque is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

• Age at time of disappearance: 36 years-old
• Height: 6 feet 0 inch
• Weight: 145 pounds
• Hair: Brown
• Eye color: Blue
• MCSO Case#: 03-3247

On August 14, 1999 at 1230 hours a Deputy from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Jurgen Knemeyer’s Willits home (Hill Top Road) in regards to a welfare check. A neighbor had reported seeing the back door to Jurgen Knemeyer’s home open with the interior lights being on since 0300 hours in the morning.

Upon entering into the residence, the Deputy located Jurgen Knemeyer deceased from injuries obviously associated with a homicide.

During investigations Detectives learned a family member had last spoken with Jurgen Knemeyer on 08-12-1999 at 2130 hours. At this time it is unclear the motive for the homicide but growing marijuana was located at Jurgen Knemeyer’s home during the processing of the crime scene.

Anyone with information in regards to the murder of Jurgen Knemeyer is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

• Age at time of death: 56 years-old
• Height: 5 feet 9 inch
• Weight: 185 pounds
• Hair: Grey
• Eye color: Hazel
• MCSO Case#: 99-2653

On March 6, 1988 the remains of Clyde Donald Stanley, 31-year-old male from Fort Bragg, were found underneath a refrigerator in the area commonly referred to a Chadbourne Gulch, about 10-miles north of Fort Bragg. A forensic autopsy performed revealed that Stanley died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. Family members last saw Stanley alive on March 27, 1987, leaving a family member’s house in Willits. Stanley was driving a 1973 yellow Ford Courier pick-up truck with a white camper shell.

Anyone with information in regards to the murder of Clyde Donald Stanley is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

• Age at time of disappearance: 31 years-old
• Hair: Black
• Eye color: Brown
• MCSO Case#: 88-0701

On June 18, 1974, 21-year-old Barry Kirk Pinder was found murdered at his campsite inside MacKerricher State Park just north of Fort Bragg. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

Neighboring campers reported seeing three to four male subjects in the campsite the prior evening along with a motorcycle. The following day Pinder was found deceased underneath a picnic table and the motorcycle was no longer at the location.

Anyone with information in regards to the murder of Barry Kirk Pinder is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.

• Age at time of disappearance: 21 years-old
• Height: 6 feet 1 inch
• Weight: 180 pounds
• Hair: Blonde
• MCSO Case#: 74-41358 Automated Report# 06-3774