Body identified as businessman
San Jose man found in river hadn't been in long; died of a single gunshot wound
A man whose body was found in the Yuba River died of a single gunshot wound, an autopsy Thursday showed.
Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor identified the 51-year-old victim as Dennis Knode of San Jose.
Knode was president of DK Associates General Contractors Inc. of San Jose, the department confirmed.
A state Department of Fish and Game biologist noticed the body about 2 p.m. Wednesday about a mile west of the Parks Bar bridge.
The death is considered suspicious "at this point," pending further investigation, said department spokeswoman Melanie Oakes.
Oakes did not say whether the death is a suspected homicide or suicide. The body had not been in the water for a long period of time, she said.
Oakes did not comment on why the San Jose resident was in Yuba County.
She added Friday she did not anticipate any new information on the investigation until after the weekend.
San Jose Police Sgt. Mike Sullivan said Yuba County authorities contacted police Wednesday night to ask them to make a welfare check at Knode's house after discovering his Hummer near the river.
Knode's wife told police that she thought the Hummer was at the San Jose Airport because Knode was supposed to be in Colorado, and he had called her a few days earlier to say he was snowed in and going to be delayed.
A business associate of Knode's told the San Jose Mercury News that he had met Knode on Tuesday afternoon in Redwood City. Knode paid him for work that he had performed and was on his way across the Bay to pay another contractor.
The Sheriff's Department Tactical Rescue Team secured the body in the river before it was airlifted to dry ground by a California Highway Department helicopter.
The Tactical Rescue Team searched the river Thursday for evidence.
According to the Web site for DK Associates General Contractors Inc., Knode lived in the Bay Area for the past 37 years and had 30 years of construction experience. He received a degree in construction management from Chicago Tech and is a licensed general contractor in both California and Orlando County, Fla.
"Dennis has truly worked his way up from the bottom. He started in construction as a laborer and hod carrier," the Web site said. "He then moved on to carpentry where he gained experience and recognition as a master craftsman. In 1982 he achieved journeyman status in Carpentry Local 180."
He worked for San Carlos-based Tufo Associates Inc., a national retail contractor, eventually becoming vice president.
"In Dennis' spare time he enjoys time with his family and the outdoor life. His hobbies are golf, fishing, boating, hunting, coaching football and baseball ... or anything else you can do outdoors," the Web site said.
Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat. com. The San Jose Mercury News contributed to this report.
