UPDATE: Olivehurst man admits to killing Colorado resident, records show

An Olivehurst man has admitted to shooting and killing a Colorado man Thursday along the Yuba River, according to court records.

Joseph Aaron Martin told Yuba County sheriff’s detectives he shot and killed Christopher Lawrence Russell, according to a declaration of probable cause filed in Yuba County Superior Court.

“He made the statement Friday morning,” sheriff’s Lt. Shaun Smith acknowledged Tuesday. “He has not said why, yet.”

The accused gunman was arrested after he called a tow-truck for his disabled getaway vehicle Friday afternoon, deputies said.

“He called for a tow-truck and we learned about it,” Smith confirmed.

A trail of motor oil appeared to lead away from the scene of the shooting, toward Highway 20. Crime scene investigators were seen photographing the oil trail.

Martin was arrested after deputies located a maroon colored vehicle just north of Marysville.

A phone call to Martin’s court-appointed attorney, Brian Davis, was not returned Tuesday.

Smith said investigators are “working on” recovering the murder weapon.

Martin, 21, pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge Monday in Yuba County Superior Court. Russell’s body was found about 3 p.m. Thursday on a remote gravel road about three miles downstream from the Parks Bar Bridge.

The body was found outside a white Ford F-150 pickup truck, his legs wrapped around the rear passenger-side tire.

A witness reported hearing gunfire about one hour before Russell’s body was discovered. Several shell casings were found at the scene.

Autopsy results released Tuesday confirmed Russell was shot multiple times.

Friends and family of Russell declined to comment on the record Tuesday.

Martin’s criminal history includes a 2008 grand theft conviction in Yuba County. He pleaded guilty to stealing more than $7,000 in guns, cameras and jewelry, according to court records.

He is due back in court Aug. 1 for a conference and remains in custody without bail at the Yuba County Jail.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.