By Kathryn Reed

Phoenix police are investigating the death of a Stateline man.

Matthew McMaster’s body was found in some brush along a highway after firefighters extinguished a blaze about 6am July 28. This was one week before he would have turned 25.

“The circumstances around it led us to believe it was a homicide,” Phoenix Sgt. Tommy Thompson told Lake Tahoe News.

He said results from the autopsy are not expected back for about a month.

Thompson would not reveal what clues led detectives to the conclusion McMaster’s death was a homicide, but said it was obvious it was not a case of someone camping and a fire getting out of control.

McMaster was born in Lake Tahoe and grew up in Stateline, having attended the local schools.

He was in Phoenix going to the Motorcycle Mechanic Institute. His father, Barry McMaster, told Lake Tahoe News his son had been in Arizona since the spring to pursue a dream of becoming a motorcycle mechanic; and that he was getting good grades.

McMaster loved the outdoors. He was an avid snowboarder, but also skied. He played disc golf and regular golf.

He also loved animals.

McMaster is survived by his parents, Barry and Nancy McMaster of Stateline; brother Tobias (Melanie) Sharp, and nephew Tyler Sharp of South Lake Tahoe; and grandmother Madeline Kerr of Carson City.

A celebration of life will be Aug. 12 at Lakeside Beach at 7pm.