LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. -- Deputies with the Kern County Sheriff's Department have arrested two men accused of killing 52-year-old Michael Thomas Hill then burying him in a campground.
Deputies said that about 7:45 a.m. Saturday, they were sent to the Hanning Flat Campground in Lake Isabella regarding a human hand that was found sticking out of the sand.
Deputies said a woman was walking along the shoreline and saw what she believed to be a human hand
She went back to her camp site and had a friend go back with her to confirm what she saw, deputies said.
Both people believed it was a human hand and called 911, deputies said.
Deputies arrived and confirmed what the campers hadfound, sealed off the area and called out the Sheriff's Office homicide detectives.
Homicide detectives were joined at the scene by a sheriff's coroner investigator and Sheriff's Office technical investigators.
Detectives said they slowly began processing the scene and located several items of evidence.
The area where the hand was found was then carefully excavated.
Detectives said Hill's body was found in an area that was 1 to 2 feet deep.
Detectives said Hill's body was found to have possible trauma to his head, and what appeared to be wounds to his torso.
As detectives continued their investigation, various leads indicated 59-year-old Dennis Lee Simmons who lived in the 5700 block of Vista Grande Drive in Weldon as a possible suspect.
Deputies said that around 9 a.m. Sunday, they went to Simmons' home and found items of evidence outside of the home.
Detectives maintained surveillance of the home until they got a search warrant, deputies said.
Detectives, along with members of the Sheriff's Office Special Operations Group served the search warrant and detained Simmons, along with 42-year-old Clifton Blake.
They were detained without incident. Both men were taken to the Kern Valley Substation for questioning.
Detectives, technical investigators, and personnel from the District Attorney's Office crime lab began processing the home where they said they found several more items of evidence related to the killing, including Simmons' truck.
Detectives then arrested Simmons and Blake on charges of murder and conspiracy.
They were both taken to the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield where they were booked.
The investigation is continuing and no other suspects are outstanding.
Deputies said that about 7:45 a.m. Saturday, they were sent to the Hanning Flat Campground in Lake Isabella regarding a human hand that was found sticking out of the sand.
Deputies said a woman was walking along the shoreline and saw what she believed to be a human hand
She went back to her camp site and had a friend go back with her to confirm what she saw, deputies said.
Both people believed it was a human hand and called 911, deputies said.
Deputies arrived and confirmed what the campers hadfound, sealed off the area and called out the Sheriff's Office homicide detectives.
Homicide detectives were joined at the scene by a sheriff's coroner investigator and Sheriff's Office technical investigators.
Detectives said they slowly began processing the scene and located several items of evidence.
The area where the hand was found was then carefully excavated.
Detectives said Hill's body was found in an area that was 1 to 2 feet deep.
Detectives said Hill's body was found to have possible trauma to his head, and what appeared to be wounds to his torso.
As detectives continued their investigation, various leads indicated 59-year-old Dennis Lee Simmons who lived in the 5700 block of Vista Grande Drive in Weldon as a possible suspect.
Deputies said that around 9 a.m. Sunday, they went to Simmons' home and found items of evidence outside of the home.
Detectives maintained surveillance of the home until they got a search warrant, deputies said.
Detectives, along with members of the Sheriff's Office Special Operations Group served the search warrant and detained Simmons, along with 42-year-old Clifton Blake.
They were detained without incident. Both men were taken to the Kern Valley Substation for questioning.
Detectives, technical investigators, and personnel from the District Attorney's Office crime lab began processing the home where they said they found several more items of evidence related to the killing, including Simmons' truck.
Detectives then arrested Simmons and Blake on charges of murder and conspiracy.
They were both taken to the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield where they were booked.
The investigation is continuing and no other suspects are outstanding.