Friends remember Carlsbad woman found dead in Big Sur as probe continues

A 37-year-old Carlsbad woman found dead along a hiking trail in Big Sur is being remembered by friends and family, as the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case.

Authorities say the death of Joanna Shields is considered suspicious, but not a homicide. Investigators also say there is no danger to the community related to the case.

Shields, a former brand ambassador for Evolve Skateboard in Oceanside, was described by those who knew her as energetic and deeply connected to her community.

Brandon Devroede, operations manager at Evolve Skateboard, said the news of her death has been difficult to process.

“Shocking, surprising, something none of us would have expected, nothing we would have hoped to happen to anybody especially not her,” said Devroede.

Devroede said Shields made a lasting impact through her passion for skateboarding and her relationships with others. “Joanna was not just a friend to all of us here. She was a big part of the community. Her skating hobby and her life revolved around that, which is what so many people knew of her. She was an awesome coworker of ours, helped so many not just customers but made friends that way. This just became her family and you know, we’ll definitely miss that.”

Shields’ family, who owns Vinaka Café in Carlsbad, shared their grief in a post on Instagram. “Our family is grieving the loss our of youngest. She was a bright soul in our community and will be missed by so many.”

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, what were initially believed to be ligature marks on Shields’ neck were actually a trail of ant bites, not signs of strangulation. A sheriff’s commander also said there is no information supporting earlier reports of a skull fracture.

For those who knew Shields, the uncertainty surrounding her death has only added to the heartbreak. “I don’t think there are any words that can describe what happened, even though we may not know that happened, I think we just want to know the truth of what happened but at same time we never expected this and wish we could reverse that,” Devroede said.

Investigators are waiting for toxicology results from a state forensics lab to determine the cause of death — a process that could take six to eight weeks. The investigation remains open.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.