Criminalists from the California Department of Justice in Eureka responded to assist with processing the crime scene for evidence related to this homicide

“California DOJ criminalists are at the ready to assist counties throughout the state with processing crime scenes, including collecting and preserving evidence and conducting testing on that evidence at forensic labs.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

MENDOCINO COUNTY – On July 9, 2026.  at approximately 8:58 p.m., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a female advising she had located a family member deceased inside a vehicle a rural area outside of Covelo.

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deputies, emergency medical personnel, and additional law enforcement personnel from throughout Mendocino County including the California Highway Patrol responded and found an adult female victim inside a silver 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup. The woman was confirmed to be deceased at approximately 9:17 p.m.

The victim was later identified as a 31-year-old female from Covelo. 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 and received information about her possibly being on Rifle Range Road. When a family member responding to property on rifle Range Road and located the victim, the family member contacted law enforcement to report the female being deceased.

According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, 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.