Anthony Joseph Calderone, a 47-year-old resident of Trinity County, California, was found dead on December 7, 2018, in Dinsmore, CA. His body was discovered inside a pickup truck near mile marker 43 on State Route 36. Deputies responding to a report of a car crash found Calderone bleeding from the head. The truck had damage consistent with a crash, and a second vehicle, possibly involved, was later found on Van Duzen Road near Alton. Calderone was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after being found.
The investigation into Calderone's death revealed that he had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. This led authorities to treat the case as a homicide. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office conducted a four-year investigation into the circumstances surrounding Calderone's death. During this time, they gathered evidence and followed leads to identify potential suspects.
On March 22, 2023, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office made a significant breakthrough in the case. Matthew Gabriel Susmilch, a 38-year-old man, was arrested at the Mendocino County Jail on a Ramey Warrant. Susmilch was already in custody on unrelated charges when he was booked on suspicion of Calderone's murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The arrest marked a pivotal moment in the investigation, as Susmilch was identified as the primary suspect in the shooting death of Calderone.
The arrest of Susmilch came after years of meticulous investigative work by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. The authorities have not disclosed specific details about what led to Susmilch's arrest, but it is clear that the investigation involved extensive efforts to piece together the events leading up to Calderone's death. Susmilch is expected to be transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility to face prosecution for the charges against him.
The case remains open, and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office continues to encourage anyone with information related to the case or other criminal activities to come forward. The arrest of Susmilch has brought some measure of closure to the investigation, but the legal proceedings and potential trial will further determine the outcome of this tragic incident.
