UPDATE-Homicide Investigation 21S-00350 In Santa Cruz City

Santa Cruz CA

22 January, 2021

6:16 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Santa Cruz: January 20, 2021 SANTA CRUZ POLICE DEPARTMENT 155 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 MEDIA RELEASE DATE/TIME: January 20, 2021 TOPIC: UPDATE-Homicide Investigation LOCATION: 700 Block of Emeline Ave. CASE NUMBER: 21S-00350 INVOLVED SUBJECTS: VICTIM: SUSPECT(S): Name: Daniel Worth Hartley Name: Unknown DOB: 06/28/1983 Arrests: None INFORMATION On Sunday, January 17, 2021, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Santa Cruz Police Officers were dispatched to a call of a report of a male subject down in the 700 block of Emeline Avenue in the city of Santa Cruz, Ca. When Officers arrived on scene they located a male subject who had sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival. The victim has since been identified as Daniel Worth Hartley (37). Mr. Hartley is originally from Pennsylvania and appears to have only been in the Santa Cruz area since 2019. Mr. Hartley's living conditions are unknown, but he was believed to have been unsheltered. The nature of Mr. Hartley's injuries consisted of blunt force trauma to his head area. Santa Cruz Police Detectives have been working tirelessly on the case since Sunday, January 17, 2021. Detectives have been piecing together video surveillance footage collected from the immediate area. Detectives are exhaustively looking into Mr. Hartley's history during his time in Santa Cruz in an effort to develop additional leads and determine a motive. The Santa Cruz Police Department would like to thank all those in the community who have provided information in relation to this investigation. This investigation is on-going and the Santa Cruz Police Department encourages anyone with information about this case to contact Santa Cruz Police Department Detective Connor Bridges at (831) 420-5830 or leave information on the anonymous Crime Tip Line at (831) 420-5995. BACKGROUND On Sunday, January 17, 2021, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Santa Cruz Police Officers were dispatched to a call of a report of a male subject down in the 700 block of Emeline Avenue in the city of Santa Cruz, Ca. When Officers arrived on scene they located a male subject who had sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival. Santa Cruz Police Detectives were called to the scene and continued the investigation throughout the morning hours. The victim's identity is unknown at this time and a motive has yet to be determined. Detectives are sifting through surrounding video surveillance and following up on initial leads, however no suspect(s) have been identified. This is the city's first homicide of the year. This investigation is on-going and the Santa Cruz Police Department encourages anyone with information about this case to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit (831) 420- 5820 or leave information on the anonymous Crime Tip Line at (831) 420-5995. UPDATE-Homicide Investigation 21S-00350 For additional information, contact: Lieutenant Arnold Vasquez Phone: (831) 420-5856 Anonymous tips can also be sent to the police department through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995, or from our Website; www.santacruzpolice.com . Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via our smartphone app or from an SMS text. Visit our website for instructions. This press release was produced by the City of Santa Cruz. The views expressed here are the author's own.