SPRING VALLEY — Lake County Sheriff Office (LCSO) and Lake County Arson Task Force (LCATF) continue to investigate a structure fire that destroyed a home on Wolf Creek Road in Spring Valley Monday afternoon.
Detectives seek information regarding a vehicle with two unidentified occupants that was seen exiting the property as fire crews started arriving around 1:45 p.m.
Response by the LCSO was requested after firefighters discovered a suspected marijuana grow on the property. “When deputies arrived on scene, they were led to an outdoor grow about 100 yards from the residence,” LCSO Captain Jim Bauman said. “The grow consisted of over 70 marijuana plants ranging from 1 foot to 4 feet in height and initially, there were no indications of it being a legitimate medical grow.”
Bauman said that when the fire was contained, deputies were led to a room inside the home containing smaller marijuana plants believed to be marijuana clones.
According to Bauman, residents of the property, identified as George Rhodes, 46, and Becky Rhodes, 43, arrived at the scene during the investigation. “They told detectives they had left the property to go to Sacramento at 9 a.m. that morning and had just returned,” he said. “The Rhodes claimed the marijuana was being grown legitimately for medical purposes, which detectives have since confirmed.”
LCATF response was also requested after firefighters identified the fire”s apparent point of origin. Bauman said the cause of the fire, which apparently started outside of the structure on the deck, is pending further investigation. He said that a vehicle, described as an SUV similar to a Jeep Cherokee and possibly white in color, was seen leaving the property as fire crews arrived. The vehicle was occupied by two unidentified individuals, he said.
Anyone with information about how the fire may have started or who may have information regarding the identity of the two people seen leaving the Wolf Creek Road property is encouraged to contact Detectives Mike Curran or John Drewrey at 262-4200.
Cherilyn Rhodes, sister-in-law to the victims, is currently directing efforts toward assisting her in-laws through this tragedy. Anyone wishing to make a donation can call her at 533-3407 or send donations directly to P.O. Box 17, Finley, CA. 95435.
