Gage Robert Heikkila, 19, was identified as the young man who
committed suicide on the shore of Anderson Lake Jan. 7.
Gage Robert Heikkila, 19, was identified as the young man who committed suicide on the shore of Anderson Lake Jan. 7.
The Santa Clara County Coroner’s office confirmed the Morgan Hill resident’s identity Thursday. Authorities at the office declined to release his cause of death, though sheriff’s deputies on the scene last week confirmed he took his own life.
According to Heikkila’s obituary in today’s edition of the Times, he was a graduate of Live Oak High School. He was a member of the class of 2009, and was quoted in Times article in June 2009 about the commencement ceremony.
He was quoted as saying he would miss his friends after graduating, but he looked forward to studying at Mission College to become a firefighter.
Police responded to a call Jan. 7 from two of Heikkila’s friends who reported the death, which took place near the site of a closed boat launch ramp on Holiday Drive.
The death occurred outdoors on Santa Clara County parks property. Heikkila’s body was found just past the treeline near the shore of Anderson Lake.
The body was found just past the treeline on the shore of Anderson Lake, and could not be seen from the edge of the road where yellow police tape kept bystanders at bay. Also taped off were two vehicles – a gray Ford pickup truck and a black Toyota Corolla that were parked on the side of the road in front of the gate leading to the closed boat ramp. The incident was reported by two friends of the deceased – a male and female, both who remained on the scene while deputies and the coroner investigated the death until about 2:40 p.m. Jan. 7.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Doug Vanderesch declined to say how the two witnesses, who had a pet dog on a leash, found the victim’s body or knew he was there.
The incident was the second suicide in public in Morgan Hill in about 10 days. On Dec. 29, Gary Carter, 56, was found shortly after he shot himself in the head next to the Union-Pacific railroad tracks between Wright and Central avenues.
Memorial services for Heikkila will take place at 2 p.m. Jan. 21, at Lone Hill Church, 5055 Lone Hill Road in Los Gatos.
