The woman found deceased in the Russian River last week has been identified by authorities. According to a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the decedent is 37-year-od Caitlin Bunger described as a transient in the Ukiah area known to frequent the Perkins Street Bridge.
On March 27, 2024, investigators conducted a post-mortem examination as part of the coroner’s inquiry and explored recent missing person reports, eventually identifying a subject with physical characteristics matching those of the decedent. Medical records of the reported missing individual were compared during the examination, leading to the positive identification of the decedent.
Representatives from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Unit promptly notified Bunger’s legal next-of-kin. According to Bunger’s family, she had relocated to California approximately 5-6 months prior to the investigation. Records from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Bunger had been reported missing in both October 2023 and March 2024, with reports indicating her status as homeless
The circumstances surrounding Bunger’s death are still unknown, with the cause and manner of death subject to ongoing investigation. No preliminary findings from the post-mortem examination have been released at this time.
A kayaker found Bunger’s body along the Russian River on March 24, 2024 reporting the discovery to the Ukiah Police Department (UPD) around 4:30 PM, prompting UPD to alert the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office due to the incident’s location falling within the county’s jurisdiction. Sheriff’s Office personnel, alongside several fire agencies, mobilized to the area near Morrison Creek and Old River Road to locate the possible body.
Utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), fire personnel scanned the river area and made a grim discovery at approximately 5:35 PM: a deceased individual. Trained in swift water rescue, fire personnel navigated the fast-moving water to retrieve the decedent.
Community members are urged to come forward with any information pertinent to the investigation, as authorities continue to understand what happened to Bunger.
