Joanna Ruth Shields

Hiker Joanna Ruth Shields died from probable alcohol withdrawal seizures linked to chronic alcohol use disorder after being found unresponsive in water near Sykes Hot Springs in California’s Ventana Wilderness. Authorities confirmed no criminal activity, highlighting the risks of sudden alcohol cessation in isolated settings.

Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, was found dead near Sykes Hot Springs in Big Sur, California, with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office ruling her death natural due to complications from alcohol withdrawal. Initial suspicions of foul play were dismissed after an autopsy confirmed no criminal activity, with evidence pointing to chronic alcohol use disorder and a history of mental health struggles.

A woman found in California's Big Sur backcountry with suspicious marks on her face and neck died of alcohol withdrawal, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Her body was discovered by hikers in Sykes hot springs area of Ventana wilderness, where she was found naked in a pool of water.

Joanna Ruth Shields, found dead in California's Big Sur wilderness with suspicious marks on her face and neck, died of alcohol withdrawal according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Her body was discovered by hikers in a pool of water in the Sykes hot springs area.

A 37-year-old woman, Joanna Ruth Shields, was found dead and naked in the Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur with severe injuries, including a head wound and neck cuts. Authorities are investigating her death as suspicious, with witnesses reporting a man who claimed to be her friend appeared nervous and described finding her face down in water. An autopsy is pending toxicology results.