[UPDATE: Body Identified as Missing Woman] Body Found in Missing Woman’s Home; Del Norte Sheriff’s Office Seeks Estranged Husband

Information from the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office:

Edward Culver Hughes IV

Edward Culver Hughes IV

On February 1st of 2019, the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office received a missing person’s report regarding Emiley Hughes. The individual that reported Emiley missing was her grandmother, Donna Tesch. At the time, Donna reported she had not heard from Emiley since about December 23rd.

Emiley was immediately entered into the missing persons system (NCIC), a missing persons flyer was created and forwarded to outside agencies as well as social media.

A crop of the Del Norte County Sheriff's Department's missing poster for Emiley Hughes.

A crop of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Department’s missing poster for Emiley Hughes.

As the DNSO began the investigation, Emiley’s mother Rawnda was contacted and questioned. At the time of that contact, Rawnda also said that she had not heard from Emiley since sometime in the month of December.

On February 2nd, Emiley’s mother contacted the DNSO with information. She made a report indicating that Emiley had been contacted and was alive and well. She said Emiley was with a boyfriend in Eureka, California and had no plans of coming home. We also received additional information suggesting Emiley was voluntarily missing, but since the DNSO did not receive firsthand information from Emiley, we continued to consider her a missing person.

On February 11th we received an anonymous report that Emiley may be deceased in her last known residence. The information did not meet the legal standard to establish probable cause. Over the next couple of days, the DNSO attempted to gain legal entry into the home multiple times. We tried to locate Emiley’s estranged husband, Edward on several occasions. We were able to make contact with him by phone one time and he agreed to meet us at the residence, where we were waiting for him. Edward never showed and his phone was disconnected.

On Feburary 14th, Emiley’s vehicle was located by a family member. On that same day, that same family member traveled to Emiley’s home to retrieve the keys to that vehicle and she made entry into the residence. Upon making entry she noticed a suspicious odor and notified authorities. The DNSO responded and detecting the same odor made legal entry into the residence. The DNSO also obtained a warrant and ultimately located a deceased person inside of the home.

At this time we are unable to identify the decedent and will not release information on this individual’s identity until we are 100% certain who he or she is. Our initial observations indicate that the body has been deceased for several weeks but nothing will be definitive until a thorough autopsy can be completed.

Edward Culver Hughes IV

Edward Culver Hughes IV

The DNSO has locked the scene down and are maintaining around the clock security. California Department of Justice has been contacted and has agreed to respond to the location to process the entire scene with assistance from our investigators.

At this time we cannot confirm this investigation to be a murder investigation as we do not yet know what lead to the death of the individual we located, although we are treating it as such. Additionally, Edward Culver Hughes IV is the primary person of interest in this matter. The DNSO believes he had knowledge of the decedent inside his residence. We are asking for the public’s’ assistance in locating him. If you have any knowledge of his whereabouts, please contact the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office by dialing 7074644191 ext 6, 911 or by contacting Investigator Gill at 7079517530. Please keep in mind that our Facebook page is not constantly monitored.

UPDATE: Information from the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office:

Based upon the medical examination results, Emiley Hughes has been positively identified as the decedent. It has also been determined that her time of death was around the end of December, 2018. This investigation remains active and due to the nature of the case we are unable to release certain details. Emiley’s next of kin has been notified.

The DNSO is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Edward (Eddie) Hughes. He is the primary person of interest regarding the death of Emiley Hughes.

The DNSO is continuing to work in collaboration with the Californa Department of Justice, Del Norte District Attorney’s Office and has also received assistance from other agencies including California Highway Patrol

UPDATEWanted Suspect in Wife’s Death Nabbed

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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯Sick him Dano.

'merican woman
Guest
'merican woman
5 years ago

So mom lied to the police?

WiccadSister
Guest
WiccadSister
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

The text came from the husband. The mother is a friend of mine, and had been trying to find her. Husband seems to be the one who contacted Emily’s mom saying she moved to Eureka with her boyfriend. Which, since she was found in Crescent City, doesn’t seem to be the case. The mother does not live in California.

Laura Koeppel
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Emily’s messenger has been active all this time and it was not her using it. Are Emily’s kids OK? Why did her mom lie about Emily contacting her

Wondering
Guest
Wondering
5 years ago
Reply to  WiccadSister

Where are the three kids during all of this?

Rawnda Tesch
Guest
Rawnda Tesch
3 years ago
Reply to  Wondering

Eddie gave the kids to whomever would take them.

Laura Koeppel
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  WiccadSister

I last saw Emily 12-22-18 as she dropped off some baby stuff to my neighbor and she was driving the purple car ,3 days later I was told by several employees at the gas station she was working at that’s she did not show up or call into work . Her husband Eddie had went in to the gas station and claimed that he and Emily used to be users of drugs and that she had relapsed and went to Eureka, 3 days later I noticed Eddie at the gas station driving his red vehicle, again stating that she had asked him for money and said that she was not going to come back home. As a week passed Eddie had been in and out of the gas station several times claiming that Emily was in a heroin house in Eureka and was positive that she was going to return home and didn’t want to see her kids. After 3 weeks of Eddie going in and out of the gas station I noticed that this time he was driving Emily’s purple vehicle and he had the kids with him. Eddie had went in to the gas station several times a week since Emily had disappeared, Well from personal conversations with Emily, she loved her kids with all her heart and would never leave them, she also claimed that she loved her husband with all her heart and that she had no intentions of leaving her kids or her husband. I last saw Eddie driving Emily’s purple vehicle 3 days prior to her body being found going down Washington boulevard towards the highschool, I believe that he may have been the one who relapsed.

Rawnda Tesch
Guest
Rawnda Tesch
3 years ago
Reply to  'merican woman

I did not lie .eddie was using Emileys cell phone as it was her texting me lies as if it were her.

Michael R Ross
Guest
5 years ago

Boy this must have stank!! I don`t see how anyone can go anywhere near something like this. I take my hat off to anyone who can deal with decomposing bodies.

boldt
Guest
boldt
5 years ago
Reply to  Michael R Ross

you’re rude & not thoughtful or compassionate. what an odd thing to say.

Gerald Myers
Guest
Gerald Myers
5 years ago
Reply to  Michael R Ross

As a former long -time-ago paramedic with Garberville Ambulance (1979-1981) I can assure you it is not any fun. I was involved in several recovery/removals of dead -over-a-few days human bodies. You do it with as much respect for the human that once was, and as much professionalism as you can muster. And you talk about it afterwards with your partner that was there with you.

But some runs you can never quite forget.

BrainwashedWarrior
Guest
BrainwashedWarrior
5 years ago
Reply to  Michael R Ross

Try walking into a room where Isis brought in 6 teens tortured them cut off their private parts, stuck them in their mouths and beheaded them. Opened the door to the room it was around 1400 and about 88 degrees and had all week. I threw up for 2 days straight anytime something nasty like a shitty mre got to me. Im vegan now because the smell of meat makes me almost faint the smell was so strong….. ugg fuck rotting meat from anything.

Gerald Myers
Guest
Gerald Myers
5 years ago

Thank you for your (mostly thankless from the great american public) service. I did two years active duty in the then peacetime army stateside. My Ranger buddy (1964) had been a young marine wounded at Chosin Reservoir in 1950 (he was the oldest volunteer in the ranger training unit), and that was not much fun either.

J
Guest
J
5 years ago

Sometimes I forget the reason to support the troops is the things they did for other countries, not just what they do for our country. I literally cannot even try to comprehend what it would be like to see that, thank you for what you did for all those people. I’m sorry you had to see that.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Sounds like minimal effort to contact her face-to-face instead of heresay & text etc. A wellness check by this agency or the police knocking her or her boyfriends door until they saw her would of shown some effort. This is dysfunctional on so many levels & an example of a system that does not work and failed this woman!

Diamond
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Guest! You are so right! Duh! My sentiments exactly. Wouldn’t the person’s own home be the FIRST place to look?!

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

“The information did not meet the legal standard to establish probable cause.” Laughing my ass off.

Sparkelmahn
Guest
Sparkelmahn
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Good news: the information did meet the donut standard.

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

I can’t believe this level of incompetence, how can someone reporting a dead body of a missing woman not be probable cause… it sounds like they’re trying to avoid a lawsuit or negligence.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

~oh pleeeeeze.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

supported by Oath or affirmation.

Marc
Guest
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

I’m sorry, but I am confused. Can you please explain how the fourth amendment does anything but refute your previous assertion that DNSO failed to properly apply the law? If they respond to a residence to investigate an anonymous tip (as noted by Kym), look through the windows and do not see a body, anything askew, or note the smell of decomposition, by forcing the door to further investigate they would legally compromise any evidence found.

And, by the way, an anonymous type does not qualify as affirmation.

“Affirmation. A solemn and formal declaration of the truth of a statement, such as an Affidavit or the actual or prospective testimony of a witness or a party that takes the place of an oath. An affirmation is also used when a person cannot take an oath because of religious convictions.”

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Marc

~when i said the oh pleeeeeze, it went with the hundreds of times trespass is made in Humboldt County w/out a thought of due process. If a case goes to court the show cause hearing is skipped and begins with an arraignment of pleading to something without evidence for the claim ever entered into the proceeding. A ‘defendant’ has the right to meet his accuser eye to eye – the plaintiff must be present.

So, I’ll retract my statement about DNSO failing to properly apply the law, because, as you say, an anonymous tip is not enough to produce a warrant – unless you live in Humboldt, where it is unlawfully encouraged.

Marc
Guest
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Thanks for the clarification. I misunderstood your previous post. Probable cause is a great protection, but I agree it is also easily abused.

Alicia
Guest
Alicia
5 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Kym, there’s something that has often confused me about things like this having to do with law enforcement and legal/criminal issues. The term “probable cause”. Is this a cut and dry thing? It’s like the term “didn’t meet criteria for a legal hold so we let him/her go.”. If it was decided there was no probable cause(or enough) to enter the house—- why does it seem at other times there’d be no hesitation to enter a house to either save someone/help someone/give aid. ? Nothing negative about the people in article and the difficult job they do every single day. Just wondering —-

Obvious
Guest
Obvious
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

For real!!!! Pure insanity…must be nice being in the position of power to decide whats important and whats not.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
5 years ago

It’s really worthwhile to post two different shots of the wanted man. In one he looks like a dark-haired Guy Fieri, in the other like a plump Cat Stevens. Same face, though. Thank you, Kym–makes it much more likely the person will be spotted.

Seamus
Guest
Seamus
5 years ago

The treatment of this case by authorities definitely meets the legal definition of a clusterfuck.

Del Norte County Loves Meth ❤️ 👃🏻 ❄️
Guest
Del Norte County Loves Meth ❤️ 👃🏻 ❄️
5 years ago
Reply to  Seamus

Del Norte County law enforcement has been the (urban) dictionary definition of the word “clusterfuck” for a long time.

Z
Guest
Z
5 years ago

I wonder if the DNSO would have been so “casual” in their due diligence if it had been a wealthy man missing. The whole thing is very sad for the young woman & family.

Desiree Amber Espinosa
Guest
Desiree Amber Espinosa
5 years ago
Reply to  Z

That is exactly the issue. Emily and Eddie we’re recovering addicts. Del Norte County officials have a long memory for mistakes made. They assumed she was off getting high because he was. No further investigation needed.

Farce
Guest
Farce
5 years ago

Okay- Del Norte Sheriff is actually lamer than Humboldt. Congratulations I guess? Their excuses are lame their not physically checking on the young woman is lame, their complete lack of care towards the mother’s concern was lame…are they really so busy up there?!

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Farce

~i dunno if dancing deputies, a grow dozer, and a Bearcat can be beat?

Every time i think of Guest’s comment about having a riot gear toy – now Honsal just has to find a riot – i laugh all over again.

What?
Guest
What?
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

huh? I’m sure there are multiple people using “guest”, you make no sense.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  What?

Guest December 7, 2018 12:27 pm

“This essential piece of life saving equipment will greatly enhance our ability to rapidly react to a volatile life safety incident that could occur anywhere in the county or North state.”

Nope. Now they have riot gear in search of a riot, while most of our crime is drug and mental health related. And there are very few services available locally for drug addiction and mental health treatment.

Unless this is a mobile counseling van, it’s a few hundred thousand dollars that could have been better spent on other things. The people of Humboldt are not enemy combatants.

Connie Dobbs
Guest
Connie Dobbs
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Oh, yeah? Try to cross the street in front of one.

CommonCents
Guest
CommonCents
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

IDK, I think it was pretty effective in that Mckinleyville apartment complex active shooter incident for ferrying folks to safety. See this article for thought process behind purchase. https://www.times-standard.com/2016/09/04/mckinleyville-shooter-standoff-prompts-county-to-revisit-armored-vehicle-funding/

It’s kind of like insurance, ridiculous $$ until you need it.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  CommonCents

~are you saying we couldn’t survive without it?

Joe Dirt
Guest
Joe Dirt
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Next thing you know they’ll be using riot gear on Peaceful protesters like they do all over Standing Rock yellow vest movement all we need to do now is get ourselves a water cannon and we’ll be set to break up any peaceful protest

Brian
Guest
Brian
5 years ago

Fuck! This shit is so sad…

Z
Guest
Z
5 years ago

Brian, I agree.

Diamond
Guest
5 years ago

Call me crazy but wouldn’t the woman’s own home be the first place to search and not the last for a missing person!!??

Liz
Guest
Liz
5 years ago
Reply to  Diamond

The pree release say, “Over the next couple of days, the DNSO attempted to gain legal entry into the home multiple times.”

Marc
Guest
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  Diamond

“The DNSO believes he had knowledge of the decedent inside his residence.”

This statement would lead me to believe it was not only her residence, so probable cause would be necessary to enter. An anonymous tip is not probable cause.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~two threads – one HCSO “Upon further investigation, deputies entered the residence . . .”

This thread DNSO “… attempted to gain legal entry into the home multiple times.”

Obvious post @ 5:19 yesterday — “For real!!!! Pure insanity…must be nice being in the position of power to decide whats important and whats not.”

Marc
Guest
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Obvious’ post was disingenuous at best, as the DN case has nothing to do with a determination of what is important, only what is legally justifiable. As to your point, it was not stated in the article about HCSO’s response to locating the stolen vehicle what their probable cause was to enter the residence. Perhaps, upon further investigation, they could see illegal activity through a window (this is conjecture to make a point). The point is that they claim to have developed probable cause to make entry. We’ll see if that is truly the case if this goes to court, but without further information one can only speculate.

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
5 years ago

Guy Fieri? He took her to murdertown, it would seem.

Norcalwarmth
Guest
Norcalwarmth
5 years ago

If they made entry unlawfully and she was murdered it could make a trial impossible. The real problem was that her husband hadn’t reported her missing and was involved in spreading a story of drug use and infedelity regarding her whereabouts. These young people had found sobriety and were doing well, a lot of people here were proud and rooting for them. Sadly I think the holidays caused some delay in community response. Rumors and social media had loved ones running circles. They had begun acting strange in November beginning of December. Maybe he was using and being abusive, maybe she was too? I didn’t ask, maybe I should have. So many people have wept over this and it has just begun. I never thought I would be so close to murder so often but I have. 4 years later we still wait, we fight, we cry for justice for our loved one who was murdered at 13 years old in Klamath, CA. He would have turned 17 the day they found Emileys body. I just hope they can figure out what really happened to her so that her family doesn’t live in this moment forever. It’s am awful place to be.

Desiree Amber Espinosa
Guest
Desiree Amber Espinosa
5 years ago
Reply to  Norcalwarmth

Amen

C'mon elections
Guest
C'mon elections
5 years ago

Sounds to me like the del Norte county sheriff’s department actually respects and tries to uphold the constitution of the United States of American unlike the hcso!!!! Honsel and the county supervisors (minus madrone ) are actively in the middle of there own little coup’ and should be arrested for treason against the citizens of this great nation. There treasonous to the very system that employs them and DEFINITELY to there constitutes! !!! Unfortunately in this case law enforcement actually respecting the law they’ve sworn to uphold has turned out in a bad situation. Prayers to the girls family sad!!!!!

Guest
Guest
5 years ago

So where are her kids?.

Norcalwarmth
Guest
Norcalwarmth
5 years ago

They got him

carry
Guest
carry
5 years ago

no one is going to tell on this guy while he’s still at large,,,

the neighbors are NOT going to call the police when they hear some one’s life in danger,,,
because they could put their life in danger too,

so the real tippers won’t give their name, and then there is the fact that he can get out today with someone with a house to promise he goes to court,,, or $100,000,, is ten percent of one million dollar bail he has

carry
Guest
carry
5 years ago

those with a scanner can hear who made the complaint

Rawnda Tesch
Guest
Rawnda Tesch
3 years ago

No I did not lie to the police . Eddie had Emileys cell phone and was texting as her to my phone. Asshole anyway.