Monterey County Sheriff's Office Rules Hiker's Death as Natural

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office reported that Joanna Ruth Shields, a 37-year-old hiker, died from complications related to alcohol withdrawal. The office ruled her death as natural. Shields was found on April 9 near Sykes Hot Springs along the Pine Ridge Trail in Los Padres National Forest. Initially, investigators treated the case as suspicious due to unknown circumstances surrounding her death, with reports of a head wound and marks on her neck. However, the sheriff's office stated that no evidence suggested she was a victim of a crime. An autopsy revealed that a laceration above her left eye was superficial and did not contribute to her death. The marks on her neck were determined to be caused by postmortem insect activity. Shields had a history of bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder, and family members indicated her mental health had declined prior to her death after she ceased taking prescribed medication. Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto expressed hope that the findings would provide answers and closure for Shields' family.