Authorities are continuing to investigate the death of a 37-year-old female skateboarder named Joanna Shields whose body was discovered in a remote wilderness area in California.
Joanna of Carlsbad was found on April 9 by hikers in the Ventana Wilderness within Los Padres National Forest, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Officials say the case is being treated as suspicious while they work to determine what led to her death.
Shields was known in her community as someone who spent a lot of time outdoors and often rode her skateboard through San Diego streets.
Those who knew her described her as someone who cared about the people around her and stayed closely connected to the skating community. Jeff Anning, founder of Evolve Skateboards, said she had been part of their group for years and was a familiar face at rides and meetups.
He added that she helped bring more women into group skating sessions and was often present at community events.
Friends and fellow skaters said she was consistently supportive and made time for others who were new to the scene.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office said an autopsy has been completed and investigators are now waiting on toxicology results.
Officials noted that it can take several weeks before final conclusions are reached about cause and manner of death.
People who were hiking in the area when the body was found later spoke with authorities about what they observed at the scene. One hiker, Gabe Holmes, said there were no immediate signs of blood. He also mentioned seeing injuries that were later examined more closely by responders.
Authorities said that early accounts from witnesses can differ from medical findings once a full examination is done.
They also confirmed that everyone who was present during the discovery has been cooperating with the investigation.
No arrests have been made and officials say there is currently no known risk to the public.