Law enforcement officers and firefighters discovered the remains of a fourth presumed Valley Fire victim Tuesday evening near Cobb.
According to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake Count Sheriff’s Office, evidence leads authorities to suspect the victim is Robert Taylor Fletcher. He was reported missing on Sept. 16.
The discovery was made on Tuesday at approximately 6:30 p.m., when deputies and detectives from the Sheriff’s Office teams with fire crews to search a burn area near the village. After discovering what were confirmed to be human remains, the filtered through evidence and came to their initial determination.
This is the fourth confirmed death related to the fire. Authorities confirmed the death of Barbara McWilliams after remains were found in the ashes of her home near Middletown on Sept. 13. Bruce Beven Burns and Leonard Neft were confirmed on Sept. 16, after their remains were discovered near Hidden Valley Lake and Anderson Springs, respectively.
If anyone has been unable to locate friends or family members since the Valley Fire, they are encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office so a missing persons report can be made. Call (707) 263-2690.
Brooks said the Sheriff’s Office and all first responders expressed their condolences.
