Michael Thomas Bingham Jr., aged 31, was found dead on September 7, 2018, in Shasta Lake, California. He and his girlfriend, Angela Lynne McConnell, were discovered at a transient camp near 500 Black Canyon Road. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene after receiving a report of two deceased individuals. Upon arrival, deputies found Bingham and McConnell, both residents of Shasta Lake, dead from gunshot wounds. The couple had been living in a transient camp on an undeveloped piece of property at the time of their deaths.
The deaths of Bingham and McConnell were immediately treated as homicides by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit. Autopsies were scheduled to determine the exact cause of death, but it was clear from the outset that both victims had been shot. Despite the severity of the crime, no suspects were in custody at the time, and the investigation did not indicate any immediate threat to the general public. The Sheriff's Office urged anyone with information about the homicides to come forward, but no significant leads were reported in the immediate aftermath.
In the years following the murders, the case has remained unsolved. McConnell's mother, Tammy Carpenter, has been a vocal advocate for justice, keeping her daughter's memory alive through community events and a billboard offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The billboard, located near the site of the murders, serves as a constant reminder of the unsolved case and the ongoing search for justice. Despite these efforts, no arrests have been made, and the identities of the perpetrators remain unknown.
The double homicide has had a profound impact on the community, particularly among the Native American population, as McConnell was a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. Her death has brought attention to the broader issue of violence against Indigenous women, with community members and activists using her case to highlight the need for greater awareness and action. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case, but as of now, the murders of Michael Thomas Bingham Jr. and Angela Lynne McConnell remain a tragic mystery.
