A California woman found dead on a remote trail in Big Sur earlier this year died from complications of alcohol withdrawal, not from a crime, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office has determined.
Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, died of probable alcohol withdrawal seizures due to chronic alcohol use disorder, according to the coroner's report. The sheriff's office ruled her death natural.
Shields was found dead on April 9 near Sykes Hot Springs along the Pine Ridge Trail in Los Padres National Forest. Investigators initially treated the case as suspicious because her cause of death was unknown. Hikers who found her body reported seeing a head wound and marks on her neck. She was found lying near a shallow creek wearing a black sports bra, with her clothing, sandals, and a water bottle nearby.
An autopsy determined the laceration above her left eye was superficial and did not contribute to her death. Investigators also concluded the marks on her neck were caused by postmortem insect activity. No evidence of strangulation was found.
"Investigators found no evidence during the forensic examination or throughout the investigation to indicate that Ms. Shields was the victim of a crime," the coroner's report states.
Fox News Digital previously reported that witnesses who discovered Shields' body told local media they encountered a man who identified himself as her friend and said he had found her after the pair became separated on the trail. At the time, Monterey County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Andres Rosas urged the public not to jump to conclusions, saying investigators were working to determine the cause of death and that everyone at the scene had cooperated.
The coroner's report also states Shields had a history of bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder. Family members told investigators her mental health declined in the months before her death after she stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication. Her sister told investigators Shields had previously experienced alcohol withdrawal seizures before becoming sober.
Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto addressed the findings publicly.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with Joanna's family and loved ones," Nieto said. "We hope these findings provide them with some measure of peace and closure after several difficult months."
