Rancher's Bizarre Death Ruled A Suicide

WOODLAND, Calif. (CBS13) -- The investigation into the strange death of a Yolo County rancher came to an abrupt end after authorities declared the incident a suicide.

Friends of Wayne King said they were caught off guard when Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto said the manager of the Historic Nelson Ranch killed himself in a bizarre fashion.

Authorities released few details about their conclusions, but the county coroner's office said King died from a bullet wound. No gun was found near his body.

"It was something I've never experienced, or even witnessed or even hear of, but his goal was to take his own life and he did accomplish that," Prieto said.

Ranch owner Ted Wilson said there were no signs Wayne was suicidal, but the victim had been dealing with troubling issues over the past two years, including a legal battle to save farmland, a website specifically attacking him, and even reports of gunshots.

"I'm not a policeman, I'm not an investigator. I'm just a country boy, but I know Wayne," Wilson said.

Sheriff Prieto said they investigated claims that Wayne was targeted, but no evidence was found to substantiate the theories. The investigation into his death is now closed, authorities said.

Only the preliminary autopsy summary has been released by the Yolo County Coroner's Office. It typically takes about two months for the final report to be on the record.

King's mother has complained about the investigation to the Sheriff's department, and Wilson said he is also considering filing a complaint.