Coroner identifies man found dead in Kern River near Riverview Park, ruled death a homicide

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Coroner identified a man's body found in the Kern River Bank, near Riverview Park, as 67-year-old Clark Barnhart. The cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death homicide.

According to the coroner's office, Barnhart was found in the riverbank of the Kern River on Aug. 14, 2019. He was struck by an unknown object and pronounced dead at the scene.

The Bakersfield Police Department is investigating this case. Anyone with information is asked to call BPD at (661) 327-7111.