A motel in Northern California has been shuttered indefinitely after two women were discovered dead inside the same room within a week of each other, authorities said.
The first death was reported on Feb. 21 around 2 p.m., when local police and Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) crews responded to the motel following a report that two people were unconscious from a possible drug overdose.
"Upon arrival, one patient, 37-year-old female, was found deceased and the additional patient was transported to a local hospital," officials said.
Five days later, on Feb. 26 around noon, authorities responded to the same room for another report of two people found unconscious from a suspected overdose. Officials said a 36-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other occupant was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
"No Carbon Monoxide detectors were located in the room," authorities said. "Occupants were evacuated from the motel while it was ventilated."
The property owner was subsequently contacted and city officials, including the HBF fire chief and fire marshal, ordered the motel to be closed until the identified fire code violations were remedied and additional inspections were completed.
"It should be noted, in accordance with the California Fire Code, HBF conducted the annual fire inspection of the motel in July of 2025, violations were notated however upon additional inspection a week later, the violations were corrected," officials said.
The investigations into the two deaths remain ongoing and anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact EPD’s Criminal Investigations Unit directly at 707-441-4300.
The identities and current condition of the two surviving victims has not yet been released to the public. NTD reached out to city officials for additional information, but a response was not received by publication time.