Man found along La Grange Road identified; women describe discovering body

Two women who reported finding the body of a man along the side of the road in La Grange said there was a plastic zip tie around his neck.

The man was identified Friday as Robert Kope, 53, of San Jose. His body was found in the tall weeds on the shoulder of La Grange Road on Wednesday morning.

He is the registered owner of a motorcycle that was found a quarter-mile south at Cooperstown Road.

Renee and Destiny, who asked that only their middle and first names be used, were driving in the area when Renee got a call from her daughter, who works at La Grange Market.

A person had come into La Grange Market “saying there was a motorcycle accident on J59 (La Grange Road) and it looked like the guy was dead,” Renee said.

Renee and Destiny found the scene and first spotted a bag that was near Kope, its contents strewn around it.

“It was pretty scary just coming upon that ... especially so close to home,” Destiny said. “When I first saw him, I was yelling out the window ‘Hey, are you OK?’ I started to freak out when he didn’t respond.”

“The gentleman was lying in the fetal position,” Renee said. “I got out and called 911. The closer I got, I realized there was a zip tie around his neck. I didn’t go any closer at that point. ... I was scared to look at his face.”

The items lying around the bag near Kope included a pair of pants, a phone charger, gloves, a broken cellphone and a disposable camera.

His driver’s license lay right next to his head, atop a red coin purse, Renee said.

Homicide detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department are investigating Kope’s death. They would not say how the man died nor confirm the information about the zip tie.

Detective Cory Brown said Kope was an avid motorcyclist who left his home Sunday to tour around the Central Valley and visit a friend in the area.

He was reported missing by his family when he didn’t return home as scheduled Tuesday.

Brown would like to talk to anyone who might have spoken with Kope during his visit; he was in Modesto on Sunday. Brown also wants to talk to the man who went to La Grange Market to report the man but didn’t call police.

Detective Brown can be reached at 209-567-4485.

Anonymous tips can be left by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also email at www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text tips to CRIMES (274637) by typing “Tip704” plus a message; tipsters are eligible for a cash reward.

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Man found along La Grange Road identified; women describe discovering body."