Cause of death revealed for Big Sur hiker Joanna Shields

The Monterey County Sheriff s Office revealed the cause of death for Joanna Ruth Shields, a 37-year-old Carlsbad native. Shields died on April 9 at Sykes Hot Springs within the Los Padres National Forest. After months of mystery surrounding the discovery of her body in the remote Big Sur wilderness, officials determined she died of probable alcohol withdrawal seizures resulting from chronic alcohol use disorder. Her body was previously found naked in the rugged terrain.