Despite noisy community outrage, sheriff declines to disclose the identity of missing person

Can the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office refuse to release the identity of a person when that identification may be of interest to the community due to that person’s alleged criminal background simply because the family asks for privacy?

The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office proudly patted itself on the back about its recent work to locate a Doyle man who’s been missing since 1999.

What began as a feel good local news story about the diligence of law enforcement has erupted into a national story, and it’s far from over as local readers express serious concerns about this unidentified missing person whom they allege has a criminal background that should be revealed to the public, especially in light of a gofundme account that has already collected more than $8,000 to help reunite the family.

Responding to the community concerns, lassennews.com called Lassen County Sheriff John McGarva this morning, told him of the community’s concerns and asked him to identify the missing person.

McGarva declined our request for this information. He said the family asked for privacy, and he is going to honor that request.

Lassennews.com will file a public records act request with Lassen County later today seeking the documents that identify the missing person.

According to a gofundme account, in the name of Marcella Nasseri, “My name is Marcie. My little brother, Tommy, had been missing since August of 1999. He just VANISHED with no trace. Not even his vehicle was ever located. On 11-22-2024, I pursued a lead of a live person. This person’s picture was published in USA News, asking the public if anyone could identify the man in the picture, who was found sitting on a curb in South LA. Long story short, through fingerprints, a match was made! All this time I had been looking for unidentified remains. I was delighted to find him alive!

“I am 600 miles away in Lassen County. He is in Lynwood, California. I have initiated a possible medical transfer to a facility in Lassen County. All we know is that he just learned to walk, he can eat regular food, and he is non-verbal. I do not have money for things we need. I am mailing him used men’s clothing, a set of pencils, and a scratch pad because he loved to draw. This is all I can send for now. I would like to send him a device to listen to his favorite songs (Sailing, I Want to Know What Love Is, and Time After Time are 3 of them) to help his memory and get some response. Any monetary help would be appreciated to help get him back to Lassen County. If you have questions, please feel free to ask.”

Click here to see our original story and click here to see our follow up story.