A man identified as Kristofer Robert Manley was found deceased in the parking lot of Ray’s Food Place and Solano’s Hardware at 160 Morgan Way in Mount Shasta, California, on February 15, 2025, according to a report from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. The official investigation, led by Deputy Coroner Devin Decker and supplemented by Chief Deputy Coroner Jeff Michael Moser, concluded that Manley’s death was due to natural causes.
The incident began at approximately 6:03 a.m. on February 15, when Deputy Decker was dispatched to the scene following a request from the Mount Shasta Police Department (MSPD). MSPD Officer Gregory had responded to a report of a man down and bleeding from the face. Upon arrival, Officer Gregory noted the individual was cold to the touch, not breathing, pulseless, and unresponsive. Deputy Decker arrived at 6:07 a.m. and confirmed the man, later identified as Kristofer Manley, was deceased, pronouncing him dead at 6:08 a.m.
Manley was found lying prone on the asphalt with a trail of coagulated and partially frozen blood extending about 18 inches from his nose. Dependent lividity—a pooling of blood indicating he had been in that position for some time—was present in his face. He was dressed in casual attire, including a black hoodie, blue jeans, and black-and-white sneakers. A small abrasion with a pinprick of blood was noted on his right pinkie finger, and his left hand was tucked into his hoodie pocket. Personal items recovered from Manley included a cellphone, $110 in cash, a USB drive, two lighters, and a camouflage wallet containing hotel keys and additional cash, all of which were secured as coroner’s property.
At approximately 0655 hours, Solano’s employee allowed MSPD Officer Goldsberry and I to review the store’s security footage. One camera faces the northern side of the parking lot and at approximately 0335 hours, Manley can be seen walking from the north side of the parking lot in a southern direction. Manley is stumbling in a shuffle step, as if he were intoxicated. At approximately 0404 hours, a camera which faces the front of the parking lot, shows Manley face down. Due to a technological issue, the footage between the time frame of 0335-0403 hours was not able to be currently obtained.
Official Investigation into the death of: Manley, Kristopher, Robert
Mount Shasta Funeral Chapel arrived at 8:34 a.m. to transport Manley’s body to their facility. Later that day, at 12:38 p.m., Deputy Decker notified Manley’s next of kin of his death and returned his personal belongings to them at a residence.
An autopsy conducted on February 18 by Dr. Dan Purtzer at Mount Shasta Chapel revealed the cause of death as anoxia (lack of oxygen) resulting from pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), stemming from congestive heart failure. Acute pancreatitis due to alcoholism was listed as a significant contributing condition. The manner of death was classified as natural, with no indication of foul play, accident, or suicide.
Kristofer Robert Manley, a white male of unknown age and marital status, had a distinguishing 6-inch scar on the left side of his mid-back. His address and other personal details were not fully disclosed in the report. The investigation underscored the tragic outcome of underlying health issues exacerbated by alcohol use, culminating in his death in the early morning hours of February 15, 2025.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Mount Shasta Police Department have closed the case, with no further investigation pending. For additional information, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 530-841-2900, referencing case number 25-0272.
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