Police say alcohol withdrawal caused woman’s death in California backcountry

Joanna Ruth Shields’ body was discovered in a pool of water with suspicious marks, driving speculation she was attacked A young woman whose body was found in the backcountry of California’s Big Sur with suspicious marks on her face and neck died of alcohol withdrawal, the Monterey county sheriff’s office said on Thursday. The discovery of Joanna Ruth Shields’ body back in April had driven widespread suspicion that she had been the victim of a violent attack. A group of hikers found Shields, 3...

By Roque Planas

Cause of death revealed for Big Sur hiker whose body was found naked on remote California trail

Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, died of probable alcohol withdrawal seizures near Sykes Hot Springs in Big Sur, Monterey County investigators confirmed.