The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 12-04-2023 at approximately 12:02 PM, Deputies with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service regarding a suspicious vehicle in the 29000 block of Mountain View Road in Boonville, California.
The vehicle was located several miles down a dirt road on a large rural property. Deputies responded to the location and were escorted to the vehicle by the reporting party.
Upon Deputies arrival, it was confirmed the vehicle was unoccupied and was registered to Michele Paul who was reported as being an “At Risk” elderly missing person on 11-27-2023 in Sonoma County (California). At the time of the vehicle’s discovery, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office was conducting the missing person investigation.
Due to the area being comprised of heavily wooded and rugged terrain, Deputies on scene separated and with the assistance of a citizen began a hasty search of the area. Deputies also summoned the assistance of the Mendocino County Search and Rescue Team to respond to assist due to the risk of the missing person being lost or injured.
During the hasty search of the surrounding area, Deputies found the missing person who was deceased.
The Deputies began a death investigation, and no obvious indicators of foul play were discovered. The investigation was subsequently turned over to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office coroner’s division for further investigations connected to medical records collection and potential autopsy.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Point Arena Fire Department and the citizen who assisted in the immediate search for Michele Paul. The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the Mendocino County Search and Rescue Team for their willingness to respond to assist in the search prior to Michele Paul being located prior to their arrival.
