Homeless Man Confesses To 1998 Murder Near College Of Marin

SAN RAFAEL, CA – A San Rafael-area transient has confessed to a 1998 homicide near the campus of the College of Marin.

Gary Wild, 51, contacted San Rafael police Saturday and confessed to strangling the victim, according to Marin Community College District police Chief Jeff Marozick.

The identity of the victim, who also was a transient, is not yet being released, Marozick said this morning.

The male victim was found unconscious around 11 p.m. on Oct. 28, 1998, in a homeless encampment in a wooded area on campus property near Corte Madera Creek and a bicycle path, Marozick said.

According to the Marin County coroner's office, there were no signs of trauma and the cause of death was undetermined, Marozick said.

Wild was considered one of several transient suspects, but the death was not considered a homicide and the case was closed. Wild and the victim, who was in his 40s, knew each other, Marozick said.

After he contacted San Rafael police, Wild was taken to the Marin County Sheriff's Office and he was booked Sunday into Marin County Jail.

Marozick said he is notifying the victim's family that the death was not from natural causes.

"We were surprised it was a homicide, but we're happy to close the case," Marozick said.

By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock