Authorities have identified a woman found dead last week in the rugged backcountry near Big Sur as a Southern California resident, as investigators continue to examine what they describe as suspicious circumstances.
The Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office said Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, of Carlsbad, was found April 9 near Sykes Hot Springs in the Ventana Wilderness area of Los Padres National Forest.
Hikers discovered the body and reported it to California State Parks and sheriff’s deputies, authorities said…