The Sonoma Police Department arrested on Saturday 40-year-old Christopher McNatt on suspicion of murder. Held without bail, he is suspected to be the man who dumped a barrel in front of the Sonoma City Hall on late Friday night.

The barrel yielded the body of a dead man, according to Sgt. Cecile Focha from the Sheriff's Office. The 55-gallon plastic barrel had dried blood outside, while the top was covered with tarpaulin.

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When two deputies opened the barrel, they found a male corpse inside. Based on the information gathered by investigators, they went to Acacia Grove Mobile Home Park on state Highway 12 in Sonoma Valley to determine the house where the victim was killed.

The victim was identified as 64-year-old Ronald Sauvageau. The autopsy on Sauvageau's corpse is scheduled on Tuesday, reports OC Register.

After they located the unit, the deputies secured a search warrant, which led to the detention of two men. One of them is McNatt, who was arrested and slated for arraignment on Tuesday afternoon.

Focha said a weapon likely used to kill Sauvageau was found. However, she did not provide more information on the type of weapon found, and the relationship between the killer and the victim.

"I can't speak to the motivations, but whoever decided to kill the person and bring his body there seems gruesome and disrespectful," Focha said.

It was the second apparent homicide in Wine County within the same week. On Monday, a Napa Valley vintner killed his former investor and then committed suicide. Robert Dahl first shot Emad Tawfilis and then made the sheriff deputies chase him, but before they could catch him, Dahl used the gun to end his life.

Sonoma Mayor refused to comment on the crime, but said, "This is a sad day. It's hard for me to say more without knowing any of the other details, but I would say that residents need to be aware of our surroundings - bad things happen, even in small towns," quotes Pressdemocrat.com.

Business establishments in the area where the barrel was dumped suggested more police presence.

TagsMurder, barrel, sonoma