Hikers Discover Body of SoCal Woman Along Popular Big Sur Trail

The hikers also described coming across a man near the scene who said he was Shields' friend. He appeared visibly shaken.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 4/15/2026, 11:44:27 PM EDT

Hikers Discover Body of SoCal Woman Along Popular Big Sur Trail — A helicopter helps in the search for former "Glee" star Naya Rivera at Lake Piru in Los Padres National Forest, northwest of Los Angeles, on July 9, 2020. (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo)

A 37-year-old Carlsbad woman was found dead on April 9 by a group of backpackers along a remote Big Sur hiking trail in what authorities are investigating as a suspicious death.

Joanna Ruth Shields was identified by Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on April 13. Her body was found in the area of Sykes Hot Springs, a backcountry destination deep within the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest—a roughly 10-mile hike from the nearest trailhead.

The discovery was reported on April 9, when California State Parks and Monterey County Sheriff's deputies were notified of a body in the area. Due to challenging terrain and adverse weather, her body wasn't recovered until the following day. Deputies along with the California Highway Patrol's H70 Air Unit were able to retrieve Shields' body the following day on April 10.

A forensic examination was conducted on April 13, but the cause and manner of death remain pending the results of toxicology tests.

Hikers who were returning from a two-night backcountry trip spoke with NBC affiliate KSBW about the disturbing scene they encountered along the Pine Ridge Trail.

"I didn't see any blood. She was pale. She had markings around her neck. I don't want to say, you know, choking marks, but when the firefighter lifted the jacket, he confirmed that she had a big gash on her head," hiker Gabe Holmes told the station.

The hikers also described coming across a man near the scene who said he was Shields' friend. He appeared visibly shaken.

"Scared, nervous, like shocked, his face just, like, numb and dull," hiker John Heerema said.

Hiker Luke Heerema recounted what the man told them about what had happened. "She went to the bathroom. She was cleaning herself off in the river around 10:30 a.m., and he went looking for her and then just saw her face down in the water, naked," Luke Heerema said.

As of April 14, no arrests had been made and no current threat to the public has been identified.

Skating Community Mourns Loss

Shields was known in the skating community, frequently posting videos of herself on roller skates to her Instagram account, @jojoeskates. She worked as a customer experience manager at Evolve Skateboards USA, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Shields’ sister, Claudia Robinson, posting to Instagram under the handle @mybeautifulfilteredlife on April 14, described Shields as the youngest of 12 siblings.

"@jojoeskates was a bright, radiant light in the peak of experiencing her own joy and gratitude for her existence, and her absence on this Earth will have a profound affect on countless numbers who had the opportunity to encounter her beautiful spirit," she wrote.

Friends from the skating world also mourned her loss. "I will miss our adventures together, and carving the street. RIP my friend I will miss you," skater James Hodgson wrote in a comment under her post.

The Pine Ridge Trail from the Big Sur Station trailhead was temporarily closed to incoming hikers, though those already in the backcountry were permitted to return to their vehicles.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective R. Geng at 831-755-3700 or submit an anonymous tip at mcso.countyofmonterey.gov by clicking the "Submit a Tip" tab.