Cause of death revealed for Big Sur hiker whose body was found naked on remote California trail

The California hiker whose remains were recovered successful a distant Big Sur wilderness earlier this twelvemonth died from complications of intoxicant withdrawal, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, which ruled her decease natural.

Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, died of "probable intoxicant withdrawal seizures owed to chronic intoxicant usage disorder," the sheriff's bureau said.

Shields was recovered dormant April 9 adjacent Sykes Hot Springs on the Pine Ridge Trail successful Los Padres National Forest. Investigators initially treated the lawsuit arsenic suspicious due to the fact that her origin of decease was unknown, and hikers reported seeing a caput coiled and marks connected her neck.

CALIFORNIA HIKER'S BODY FOUND NAKED IN BIG SUR BACKCOUNTRY

FILE - The Monterey County Sheriff's Office ruled the hiker's decease "natural." (Monterey County Sheriff's Office Facebook)

The sheriff's bureau said investigators recovered nary grounds Shields was the unfortunate of a crime.

She was recovered lying adjacent a shallow creek wearing a achromatic sports bra, with her clothing, sandals and a h2o vessel nearby, according to authorities.

An autopsy determined a laceration supra her near oculus was superficial and did not lend to her death.

Investigators besides concluded the marks connected her cervix were caused by postmortem insect enactment and recovered nary grounds of strangulation.

NOLAN WELLS INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY DOESN'T POINT TO FOUL PLAY, FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYS

FILE - Aerial presumption of Big Sur, the Santa Lucia coastal upland scope and the Los Padres National Forest, successful California. (Reuters/Michael Fiala)

"Investigators recovered nary grounds during the forensic introspection oregon passim the probe to bespeak that Ms. Shields was the unfortunate of a crime," the coroner's study states.

Fox News Digital antecedently reported that witnesses who discovered Shields' assemblage told section media they encountered a antheral who identified himself arsenic her person and said helium had recovered her aft the brace became separated connected the trail.

At the time, Monterey County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Andres Rosas urged the nationalist not to leap to conclusions, saying investigators were moving to find the origin of decease and that everyone astatine the country had cooperated.

The coroner's study besides states Shields had a past of bipolar upset and intoxicant usage disorder. Family members told investigators her intelligence wellness declined successful the months earlier her decease aft she stopped taking prescribed psychiatric medication. Her sister besides told investigators Shields had antecedently experienced intoxicant withdrawal seizures earlier becoming sober.

Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto said she hopes the findings supply answers for Shields' loved ones.

FILE - The remains were recovered on a way successful Big Sur, California. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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"Our thoughts and prayers stay with Joanna's household and loved ones," Nieto said. "We anticipation these findings supply them with immoderate measurement of bid and closure aft respective hard months."

Fox News Digital's Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.