On Saturday, April 8th, 2023, at 12:17 pm, the Turlock Police Department, Turlock Fire Department, and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported sick person at Pedretti Park, 2400 N Tegner Rd, Turlock, who was unresponsive inside a vehicle.

Paramedics were the first to arrive on scene and immediately declared Tommy Lantis, 69, of Turlock, deceased.

Lantis was a transient with pre-existing medical conditions who slept in his vehicle in the park’s parking lot, just like many others. The woman who found Lantis was also transient and claimed that the Coronavirus had been going around among those in the area. It’s currently unclear if that contributed to his death.

Lantis’ vehicle was impounded for evidentiary purposes.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist in it is encouraged to call Officer Tyler Gursky at 209-668-6552.