On November 2, 2023, 65-year-old Michael Dean Plog was found dead inside his residence on Del Norte Boulevard in Sacramento, California, after firefighters responded to a house fire. Examiners determined Plog had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the torso before the fire. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office opened a homicide investigation.

Plog, a Marine veteran and truck driver, was remembered by family and friends as generous and kind-hearted; his sister Sheila Johnson said he had piercing blue eyes and would give the shirt off his back. Detectives identified two suspects known to Plog: 42-year-old Michael Wheat and 21-year-old Dominic Perez. Wheat was arrested in Sacramento County on November 12 and booked without bail; Perez was taken into custody in Long Beach on November 15. Both face charges including homicide and arson. Preliminary information suggests a possible burglary motive, and investigators continue to gather evidence and conduct interviews.

If anyone knew Michael Plog, his relationships, or saw activity near Del Norte Boulevard around November 2, please come forward with any information.