Police Say Dead Man Found in West Berkeley Was Murdered

The Berkeley Police Department has determined that a dead man found in West Berkeley in early October was murdered. On October 7, a fire crew and police officers discovered the body of Mark Stannard, a homeless man who went by the name Cowboy, in bushes in the 800 block of Harrison Street. Stannard was 64. 

Berkeley City Councilman Jesse Arreguin asked his colleagues Tuesday to create a task force investigating the issues facing Berkeley's homeless. 

The city is also offering a reward of $15,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Pamela Mullins' killer, who was found shot to death on Sacramento Street on the night of Dec. 4. Mullins was 50. 

Here's the release from the Berkeley Police Department about Stannard: 

Berkeley, California (December 20, 2012) – The City of Berkeley is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for the  death of Mark Stannard.  

On October 7, 2012 at approximately 5:51 p.m., a citizen called the Berkeley Police Department to report a person down in the bushes near 800 Harrison Street. Officers were dispatched to the location, along with the Berkeley Fire Department. They located a male subject, identified as Mark Stannard, aka “Cowboy”, 64 yrs., a known homeless community member,  deceased at this location.

The Berkeley Police Department, along with the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau, initiated a death investigation. Through this investigation, a determination has been made that Stannard died as a result of a felony assault.

This case has now been classified as a homicide. BPD is urging anyone who may know anything about this homicide to please call the Homicide Detail at (510) 981-5741, or our nonemergency number at (510) 981-5900. Callers may remain anonymous. The City of Berkeley is a member of the Bay Area Crime Stoppers (BACS) organization; Callers with information may call BACS at (800)-222-TIPS (8477). BACS offers an additional reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.