Homicide Charge, June 30

A 28-year old Coos Bay resident has been charged with Murder and Assault in the Second Degree involving the homicidal death of a 49-year old transient whose body was found tidal mud flat early Saturday morning, 1:14 a.m., near the City of Coos Bay’s Waste Water Treatment plant off of South Empire Blvd. and Fulton Ave. According to a news release from Coos Co. District Attorney R. Paul Frasier, Christopher Joseph Gonzales is in custody at the Coos Co. Jail at Coquille. He was arrested Saturday afternoon. According to the DA, “The investigation has identified at least one other potential suspect in the case.” However, he was not releasing the suspect’s name. Gonzales appeared in Circuit Court Monday afternoon and was arraigned. His bail was set at $2 million and his next court appearance will be Wednesday July 1, 8:30 a.m.