Update: County Officially Declares Suicide Was Cause of Dan Hoff Death

Updated at 10:20 a.m. Dec. 22

The county Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that Lawrence Daniel Hoff of La Mesa died in a suicide—caused by a “gunshot wound of the chest,” according to its website. (See official announcement attached.)

Original story:

A body found on Poway’s Iron Mountain by the ASTREA helicopter Monday morning has been positively identified as that of Dan Hoff, the La Mesan missing for a week, said La Mesa police Capt. Dan Willis.

“It was an apparent suicide,” Willis said a little before 1:30 p.m. Monday. He said a gun was spotted lying next to the body. “It’s a positive [ID]. It’s our guy.”

The Sheriff's Department helicopter made the discovery about 10:20 a.m. in the rural brush area on the back side of Iron Mountain, Willis said in a later statement. 

“The body was subsequently recovered and positively identified as Mr. Hoff,” Willis said. “The body sustained a single gunshot wound, apparently self-inflicted.  Mr. Hoff is believed to have been the victim of an apparent suicide.”

Confirmation of the cause of death will be made by the county Medical Examiner’s Office pending further investigation, Willis said.

Hoff’s mother reported him missing Thursday, three days after the last
known sighting of him, according to sheriff’s officials.

On Friday, a patrol deputy found Hoff’s car parked at Poway Road and
state Route 67, at the foot of the mountain.

Searchers have been looking through the undeveloped area for Hoff since
Friday, aided by helicopter personnel and service dogs. Hoff’s family also joined the search.

City News Service contributed to this story.