Location: 21300 block of Avenue 152, Porterville
Incident Date: 10/6/17
Incident Time: 0950 hours
Case Number: 17-12273
Victim: David Wurtsmith
City: Porterville
Posted by: Media Relations
***********************UPDATE***********************
Suspect-1: Altermatt, Mark
46 years old
On 10/6/17 at approximately 0950 hours, the body of victim David Wurtsmith was located in the Friant/Kern Canal in the area of Avenue 152 and Road 216, west of Porterville. Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Detectives were called to assume the investigation.
As a result of the investigation, a warrant was obtained for Mark Altermatt (46 years old) for 192(b) PC (Involuntary Manslaughter) on 1/30/18.
On 1/31/18, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office CATTCH Team located Altermatt in the city of Exeter and placed him under arrest. He was booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility for 192(b) PC.
This case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information is encouraged to call (800) 808-0488. Anonymous information about this crime can be reported via Tipnow email tcso@tipnow.net, text or voicemail at 559-725-4194 or download the Tipnow app for Android or Apple phones.
*****************Update on 10/6/17***********************
The victim has been identified as David Wurtsmith, 46-year-old male from Lindsay Ca
This case is being investigated as a homicide.
**************Original press release***********************
On 10/6/17, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a deceased male floating in the Friant Kern Canal in the area of Avenue 144, east of Road 208.
The male was located and was removed from the canal with the assistance of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and the Tulare County Fire Department. This case is being investigated by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call Detective McBride or Sergeant Heiden at the Tulare County Sheriff's Office at (559) 733-6218 or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559) 725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.