Reveal sea turtle skull and video of “trophy room” full of illegal mounts
Here’s another reason why sharing stories with strangers on planes isn’t always a good idea. In November 2023, Byron Fitzpatrick and Shannon Price chatted up a couple of plain-clothes California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers on a flight to Napa County, unaware that they were wildlife officers. During their conversation, the couple revealed they had a sea turtle skull in their luggage and also discussed their “unlawful take of a mountain lion,” according to a news release.
Further, once the wildlife officers expressed interest in the couple’s hunting pursuits, the couple disclosed even more, sharing a video of a family member’s “trophy room” in a Napa County residence where illegal mounts of “multiple taxidermized mountain lions, a wolverine and wolves” were displayed.
Once they deboarded, the wildlife officers asked the couple to show them the sea turtle skull, which they did after making sure there were no TSA officers around to see them do so. The skull was stashed in a jacket inside their carry-on luggage and was from a green sea turtle, which is federally listed as an endangered species and is illegal to possess and transport.
The wildlife officers returned to their patrol districts and sought search warrants for both the couple’s residence in Chico and the family member’s residence in Napa County, launching a lengthy investigation. When officers arrived with the search warrant at the couple’s house, they found them processing a deer out-of-season along. Inside the residence were mountain lion claws, a ringtail cat, a barn owl mount, an illegal spike buck, and several other illegal deer, according to CDFW.
Meanwhile, at Harry Fitzpatrick’s Napa County residence, officers found two illegal, full-bodied taxidermized mountain lions and one full-bodied taxidermized wolverine.
Byron Fitzpatrick, Shannon Lee and Harry Fitzpatrick were charged with the illegal take and possession of wildlife. They reached a plea deal on Jan. 30, 2025, that resulted in the following:
Do you think the punishment fits the crimes?
For Byron Fitzpatrick: In Butte County, a fine of $1,865 and one-year probation prohibiting hunting or being around those engaged in hunting. For federal wildlife violations, a fine of $1,000.
For Shannon Price: In Butte County, a fine of $1,015 and one-year probation prohibiting hunting or being around those engaged in hunting. For federal wildlife violations, a fine of $1,000.
For both: All wildlife seized was forfeited.
For Harry Fitzpatrick: In Napa County, a fine of $605 and six months probation as well as forfeiture of all unlawfully possessed and transported wildlife.
