UPDATE: Found dead on Sacramento River island, woman, 64, ID’d

REDDING — Officials have identified a woman whose lifeless body was found on a “remote and isolated” island on the Sacramento River, in the area of Girvan Rd. last Friday afternoon, May 10. According to a coroner’s statement released today, foul play is not suspected; however, the woman’s cause of death is still pending toxicology reports. 

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The victim, whose deceased body was discovered on the island by a male family member according to a previous Redding PD release, has since been identified as 64-year-old, Carol Marie Holmes, of Redding. Redding PD’s initial release did not specify how the man and woman were related. It also did not state if they were living on, or why they had been at, the small island just east of Cascade Park.

Because of the remote location where Holmes’s body was discovered, CHP’s – Northern Division Air Operations assisted in ferrying officers, investigators, and coroner’s officials to and from the island as their investigation was getting underway. CHP’s helicopter also carried Holmes’ body to the shore, where coroner’s officials took custody of her body.

Although the coroner’s investigation is continuing, “At this time, foul play does not appear to be a factor, ” Shasta County Chief Deputy Coroner Lt. Randall reported today.

Randall explained in today’s update that although a postmortem examination has been completed, the victim’s cause of death “is pending further investigation and toxicology results.”

SEE ORIGINAL REPORT: Woman’s body found on remote Sacramento River island

The sheriff’s and coroner’s investigations into Holmes’ death are ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to immediately contact Redding Police Department’s Investigations Division at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R029649 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of 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 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.