Body found in barrel on Plaza

A 40-year-old Sonoma man is being held without bail in county jail on murder charges after a body was found in a barrel on the Plaza late Friday evening.

Sgt. Cecile Focha, the Sheriff’s public information officer, said 40-year-old Christopher McNatt, of Sonoma, was booked into the county jail on suspicion of murder.

Focha said Sonoma police responded to a call of illegal dumping in front of city hall at about 11:48 p.m. Friday. When officers arrived, they found a 55-gallon plastic barrel, covered with a tarp, with a body inside.

The victim was later identified as 64-year-old Ronald Gordon Sauvageau, of Cazadero.

The area was cordoned off and detectives from the Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Unit responded.

Working from leads, the deputies and detectives went to the Acacia Grove Mobile Home Park on Highway 12. At a residence in the mobile home park, deputies established the location where Sauvageau was killed. Deputies secured the residence awaiting a search warrant

The detectives detained two men in connection with the homicide and after they were interviewed, McNatt was ?subsequently arrested.

McNatt is being held without bail and is scheduled for arraignment at 1:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 24.

Focha said because this is an open and on-going case, details are limited. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office will provide updates on the progress in a manner that does not interfere with the investigation.

She said there’s no danger to the public and the weapon used during the crime has been recovered. She said anyone with information pertaining to this case is encouraged to call the Tip Line at 565-2185. Tipsters can leave a message anytime and remain anonymous if they desire.

Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes unit are the lead investigators in the homicide case.