Alcohol withdrawal caused woman's death in California backcountry, police say

Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, died from probable alcohol withdrawal seizures due to chronic alcohol use disorder, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday. Her body was discovered in April in the backcountry of California’s Big Sur, with suspicious marks on her face and neck, initially fueling speculation of a violent attack.

A group of hikers found Shields naked in a pool of water in the Sykes hot springs area of the Ventana Wilderness. They also encountered a man who stated he had been hiking with Shields and that she had gone to the bathroom without returning. He reportedly found her facedown in the water. The man cooperated fully with the investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office investigated the case as a suspicious death. However, Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto ruled the cause of death as alcohol withdrawal. The marks on Shields' neck were determined to be insect bites, and a gash on her forehead was deemed superficial and not a contributing factor to her death. Investigators found no evidence during the forensic examination or throughout the investigation to suggest Shields was the victim of a crime.

Shields was remembered as a passionate skater and worked as a brand ambassador for Evolve Skateboards. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with Joanna’s family and loved ones," Nieto stated. "We hope these findings provide them with some measure of peace and closure after several difficult months."

“

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Joanna’s family and loved ones. We hope these findings provide them with some measure of peace and closure after several difficult months.