Several law enforcement vehicles surrounded a Rancho Santa Fe mansion Tuesday as authorities launched a homicide investigation into the death of a 71-year-old man.
San Diego County Sheriff's officials said the man's wife had returned home after running errands to find him dead inside their home, suffering from serious trauma to his upper body.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies aren't releasing the victim's name, but online records searches and neighbors said the man who owns the home had a real estate business.
"I met him and his wife a couple times socially. They're really nice people," said neighbor Dan Donoghue.
SDSO deputies and officials with the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District were the first to arrive at a home along the 17000 block of La Brisa just before 12 p.m. The victim's wife had called 911 to report a possible case of assault with a deadly weapon at their large home.
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Images: Death Investigation in Rancho Santa Fe
As of 2 p.m., about a dozen SDSO patrol vehicles lined the street in the upscale area. Deputies were focused on one sprawling home with a red roof that sits on a hillside.
One neighbor told NBC 7, homicide detectives had been in the neighborhood for several hours.
News helicopter footage showed crime scene tape cordoning several different parts of the property, including a long driveway leading to the home and an outdoor balcony next to a small, detached structure. Next to the yellow tape on the balcony, a patio table could be seen, toppled over on its side. Deputies could be seen walking around the outside of the property.
SDSO investigators are treating the case as a homicide. Detectives are investigating everyone who lives in the home.
Officials said there was no apparent break-in at the property.
The investigation is ongoing; no further details were immediately released.
Anyone with information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.
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