On March 12, 2007, Jon Ford, age 47, was found shot to death inside his home on Mountain School Road in Round Mountain, California. Ford was a well-known local businessman who owned My-T-Fine Foods in Bella Vista and the Golden Bear Store & Deli in Round Mountain. Despite extensive investigations by Shasta County sheriff's detectives, the case remains unsolved, and the motive behind the killing is still unclear.
The investigation into Jon Ford's murder has seen several developments over the years, including a search warrant issued 3.5 years after his death. This warrant allowed investigators to search Ford's home and his businesses, as well as properties belonging to his widow, Julie Renee Ford, and their son, Hamilton Chase Ford. Julie Ford had expressed frustration at being implicated, emphasizing her cooperation with law enforcement, though detectives reported she initially refused to speak without a lawyer. Investigators have not disclosed key details, such as the type of weapon used or how many times Ford was shot, which has added to the complexity of solving this case.
Further complicating the case, another of Ford’s sons, Nathaniel Ford, was sentenced to prison in an unrelated case involving a violent altercation. He was involved in a hatchet attack shortly after his father’s murder, adding to the challenges faced by the family during this tumultuous time. Despite these efforts, law enforcement has struggled to gather sufficient evidence to lead to an arrest, making this one of the more perplexing unsolved homicides in Shasta County's history. Authorities continue to investigate and act on new information when it arises, but the case remains open without any suspects identified or arrests made.
