UPDATED: Rancho Mirage woman, 34, ID’d after drowning in backyard pool

RANCHO MIRAGE — Authorities are investigating the death of a 34-year-old woman who reportedly drowned in a backyard pool, Monday afternoon, June 25. The incident happened on the 100 block of Waterford Circle, southeast of Morningside and Frank Sinatra Drives, in Rancho Mirage.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Michelle Slater, of Rancho Mirage, as the victim found deceased inside a pool at a home located within the exclusive Waterford gated community.

Slater’s time and date of injury as well as her time of death are currently listed as “unknown” and a coroner’s release indicated all three are pending further investigation.

Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the home on Waterford Circle shortly after 3:30 p.m., Cal Fire spokesperson Jody Hagemann explained in an incident report after Slater’s death.

After finding Slater’s body, medical personnel pronounced the woman deceased at the scene, said Hagemann.

Deputies assigned to the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to the scene and have assumed the investigation, which is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600. Callers can refer to incident file number S181760041 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.