The California hiker whose remains were found in a remote Big Sur wilderness earlier this year died from complications of alcohol withdrawal, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, which ruled her death natural.Joanna Ruth Shields, 37, died of "probable alcohol withdrawal seizures due to chronic alcohol use disorder," the sheriff's office said.Shields was found dead April 9 near Sykes Hot Springs along the Pine Ridge Trail in Los Padres National Forest.Investigators initially treated the case as suspicious because her cause of death was unknown, and hikers reported seeing a head wound and marks on her neck.CALIFORNIA HIKER'S BODY FOUND NAKED IN BIG SUR BACKCOUNTRYFILE - The Monterey County Sheriff's Office ruled the hiker's death "natural." (Monterey County Sheriff's Office Facebook)The sheriff's office said investigators found no evidence Shields was the victim of a crime.She was found lying near a shallow creek wearing a black sports bra, with her clothing, sandals and a water bottle nearby, according to authorities.An autopsy determined a laceration above her left eye was superficial and did not contribute to her death.Investigators also concluded the marks on her neck were caused by postmortem insect activity and found no evidence of strangulation.NOLAN WELLS INDEPENDENT AUTOPSY DOESN'T POINT TO FOUL PLAY, FORMER MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYSFILE - Aerial view of Big Sur, the Santa Lucia coastal mountain range and the Los Padres National Forest, in California.
(Reuters/Michael Fiala)"Investigators found no evidence during the forensic examination or throughout the investigation to indicate that Ms.Shields was the victim of a crime," the coroner's report states.Fox News Digital previously reported that witnesses who discovered Shields' body told local media they encountered a man who identified himself as her friend and said he had found her after the pair became separated on the trail.At the time, Monterey County Sheriff's Office Cmdr.
Andres Rosas urged t...