Family Seeks Help With Funeral Costs After Covelo Homicide Victim Identified as Josepha Basurto

The family of the woman found dead inside a pickup truck northwest of Covelo last week has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and travel costs.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed last week that it is investigating a homicide off Rifle Range Road after a woman was found dead inside a vehicle the evening of July 10.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by ShellyRose Minthorn names the victim as Josepha Littlewolf Thunderheart Basurto and says she was the daughter of Sharlisa Mountainlion Una Sam.

According to the fundraiser, Basurto’s family lives in Utah and will need to travel to California to bury her. The campaign says the family had no way to prepare for the costs of burial, travel, hotel stays and food. It also says Basurto is survived by children and a husband, and that funds raised will help cover school clothes and other essentials for the kids as well as travel costs tied to future court proceedings in the case.

The Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau is leading the case with help from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office, county investigators and criminalists from the California Department of Justice.

To learn more or to donate to Josepha’s family during this difficult time, click here.

Earlier: 

• Woman Found Dead in Vehicle at a Residence Between Spyrock and Covelo
• Homicide Confirmed Near Covelo, DOJ Criminalists Called to Scene
• 31-Year-Old Woman Found Fatally Shot Inside Truck at Illegal Marijuana Grow Near Covelo