A Sacramento man is now behind bars in connection with the disappearance and 2024 killing of 36-year-old Tyson Fiddler, capping a lengthy investigation that started with a late-night bar outing in Placerville and ended with a grim discovery in the foothills.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office says detectives arrested 47-year-old Joshua Lighthall on Friday and booked him into jail on a no-bail arrest warrant for murder. Fiddler vanished after a night out in early October 2024, and deputies found his body days later in a remote part of the county. Investigators are still not saying how he died as the case remains active.
Arrest Announced After Lengthy Investigation
On April 24, 2026, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office publicly confirmed the arrest, saying it followed a detailed and time-consuming probe, as reported by CBS Sacramento. The outlet noted that Lighthall, a Sacramento resident, was booked into the county jail on a no-bail warrant for murder. So far, deputies are keeping the specific investigative steps that led to that warrant under wraps.
Last Seen Leaving a Placerville Bar
Fiddler was reported missing after he was last seen leaving PJ's Roadhouse on Mother Lode Drive in Placerville in the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2024, according to local reporting at the time. The Elk Valley-area bar listed its address as 5641 Mother Lode Drive. Authorities recovered Fiddler's body on Oct. 10, 2024, and for weeks afterward the circumstances of his death remained under investigation, per contemporaneous coverage by KOLO and other outlets.
Sheriff's Office Credits Community and Detective Work
When announcing the arrest, the sheriff's office publicly thanked community members and others who helped move the case forward, saying investigators appreciated the public's patience while detectives worked through the evidence, a statement relayed by KCRA. The outlet reported that the department described the arrest as the result of detailed follow-up work. Officials say Lighthall remains in custody at the El Dorado County Jail on the no-bail warrant.
Community Followed the Case From Missing Person to Homicide
Hoodline and other local outlets had earlier covered the missing-person alert and the October 2024 discovery of Fiddler's body, noting that the case drew community attention as searches were launched and neighbors traded updates, as detailed when the search ended tragically. PJ's Roadhouse maintains a public listing for its Placerville spot that matches the address investigators referenced, and its site continues to show regular hours at the Mother Lode Drive location. Residents who remember the 2024 search say the case has lingered in local conversation as detectives pressed on.
What Comes Next in the Case
Authorities say the investigation is still active and that more details could surface as the case moves through the courts. As of Friday, detectives had not released any evidence or suggested a possible motive. Anyone with information tied to Fiddler's disappearance or what followed is still urged to contact investigators. The earlier missing-person alert listed El Dorado County detectives and a dedicated tip line, per the initial reporting by KOLO. We will continue to monitor public records and sheriff's updates as the case winds its way through the justice system.
