Authorities have identified a man found at the base of a cliff on a rugged section of the Russian River as Pavol Karnaj, 32, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said.
Karnaj, a citizen of the Slovak Republic who has lived in Healdsburg for several years, is believed to have taken his own life Monday morning after stabbing his partner with a knife in a case of possible domestic violence, authorities said.
The victim, a 39-year-old Healdsburg man whose name has not been released, was awakened by the attack around 6 a.m. Monday morning, police said.
He suffered deep slices in his neck and throat and asked for a ride to the hospital, but his assailant instead left in the victim's car, police said.
Neighbors drove the victim the short distance from his Healdsburg Avenue home to Healdsburg District Hospital, where personnel notified law enforcement authorities, police said.
Healdsburg Police broadcast information about the suspect and the vehicle to surrounding law enforcement agencies, and authorities spotted the car a little less than two hours later parked on private property off Highway 101 across the Sonoma-Mendocino County line.
The Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter was dispatched to search for the suspect and found him dead at the base of a 65-foot cliff, Sonoma County authorities said.
Police said the victim and Karnaj had been involved in a dispute, though the victim's medical condition has prevented him from providing a full statement to police, Sgt. Kevin Young said.
He is expected to survive his injuries, but he remains hospitalized, and it will be at least several days before investigators can interview him, Young said.
He said confidentiality laws governing domestic violence cases and victim identities likely would prevent release of details in any case.
Karnaj's body was recovered by the sheriff's helicopter crew on Monday.
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, though details have not been released.
Toxicology tests are pending, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said.
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