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Complex Investigation Pushes Forward 2 Months After Roseville Murder

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (CBS13) -- Detectives say they are slowly but surely untangling the complex circumstances surrounding the Memorial Day Weekend murder of a Roseville businessman.

Roseville investigators said the murder of 44-year-old Christopher Northam, Sr., has resulted in one of the most complicated homicide investigations the city has ever seen, with leads that have taken detectives on road leading out of the country and through a number of hate-filled internet messages from people who furiously denounced his business.

Northam was found shot to death on May 30 inside the headquarters of SkimX on Industrial Avenue, a company that plans to build sports parks that combine ramps, water and skim boards.

"SkimX was for all intents and purposes an international company, so there are lots of people to interview. Some of them extend beyond the borders of the United States," said Roseville Police Detective Darin DeFreece.

Sources told CBS13 that some of Northam's foreign investors had grown frustrated with the slow pace of the company's development. A number of construction workers who accused Northam of firing them without paying, along with others who ran afoul of him, posted lengthy screeds on the website RipOffReport.com.

One reads, "I feel bad for people who actually believe in you. I am sure its [sic] only a few cause most people can smell bull****. I hope you dip****s go ahead and make this place so I can watch your demise."

Another rant reads, "The owner and people of this small company is absurdly unprofessional... Do not trust these bad people or invest your money and time with this trash."

Investigators have examined those internet posting and others and say they will follow up and determine whether they are relevant to the case.

Police said they are "absolutely, 100 percent" confident they will piece together the puzzle in the very near future.

"We have multiple people of interest in this case we're looking into," DeFreece said, "and we're just gonna see where that takes us."

CBS13 was unable to contact the victim's sons Friday. Friends said they are moving ahead with the plan to open up the SkimX business.

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