31-Year-Old Woman Found Fatally Shot Inside Truck at Illegal Marijuana Grow Near Covelo

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty:

Stock image. Background photo by Oliver Cory

On 7/09/2026 at approximately 8:58 P.M., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a female advising she located her family member deceased in a rural area outside of Covelo, CA.

The 911 caller stated their deceased family member was located inside a vehicle in the 22000 block of Rifle Range Road northwest of Covelo, CA.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were in Covelo at the time the call was received and responded with their emergency lights and sirens to the scene. Emergency medical personnel were dispatched and Sheriff’s Deputies requested additional law enforcement personnel from throughout Mendocino County to include the California Highway Patrol.

Sheriff’s Deputies arrived in the area within approximately 15 minutes and assessed the scene. An adult female victim was located inside a silver 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup and was confirmed to be deceased at approximately 9:17 P.M. on 7/09/2026.

The victim was later identified as a 31-year-old female from Covelo, whose name is being withheld at this point of the investigation. Sheriff’s Deputies noted numerous apparent gunshots into the Toyota pickup and the victim appeared to have suffered numerous gunshot wounds. The scene where the victim and vehicle were located was at a large illicit marijuana cultivation operation, which was also investigated by law enforcement personnel who responded to this incident.

Detectives from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office responded and took over the homicide investigation. Additional investigators were requested from the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force, Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, and the County of Mendocino Marijuana Eradication Team. Criminalists from the California Department of Justice in Eureka also responded to assist with processing the crime scene for evidence related to this homicide.

Investigators learned family members of the victim had been looking for the 31-year-old female for numerous hours on 7/09/2026 and received information about her possibly being at the property on Rifle Range Road. This led to a family member responding to the property, locating the victim, and contacting law enforcement to report the female being deceased.

There are numerous suspects believed to be involved in this homicide, but information about the suspects is being withheld at this time to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

The identity of the victim from this case will be released at a later date. A post-mortem examination will be conducted next week by a forensic pathologist. If a preliminary cause and manner of death are determined by the pathologist, they will be released after the autopsy has been completed.

Sheriff’s Detectives and other investigators are still actively investigating this homicide and anyone with information related to this case is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.

Earlier: 

• Woman Found Dead in Vehicle at a Residence Between Spyrock and Covelo
• Homicide Confirmed Near Covelo, DOJ Criminalists Called to Scene