Authorities are investigating the mysterious death of a California mother, who was found on a Corralitos hiking trail over the weekend.
Authorities found the body of 25-year-old Lizbeth Arceo Sedano in the area of Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road. This discovery came after the Watsonville Police Department raised serious concerns about her whereabouts.
Sedano’s family said she wasn’t answering phone calls or texts, which was very unlike her.
These concerns began the day before when her partner, Joshua Gonzalez, threatened their daughter.
Gonzalez is now in custody after he threatened to harm his three-year-old step-daughter on Saturday night and attempted to attack a police officer.
Gonzalez called the Watsonville Police Department dispatch, stating he was armed with a knife and planned to hurt the child while standing outside the police station at about 9:19 p.m.
The first responding officer ordered Gonzalez to drop the knife, but he ignored the command and charged at the officer. The officer fired his weapon in response.
Police transported Gonzalez to an out-of-county trauma center, where he remains in stable condition. The child is unharmed and now in the care of family members.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn told Newsweek officials are ruling Sedano’s death as a homicide as the investigation continues. They are looking into possible suspects, including Gonzalez.
“Our Forensic Pathologist determined that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds to her torso,” Keehn said. “We are looking at everything to determine who did this and what the motive was to bring some closure to her family.”
The police department expressed their sympathy to Sedano’s loved ones via social media.
“On behalf of the Watsonville Police Department, we extend our condolences to Lizbeth’s family and friends during this very difficult time,” the department said.
This investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
The Corralitos Trail
The Corralitos trail, stretching approximately 5 miles, combines open meadows with expansive views and shaded forest areas.
It offers a varied hiking experience with its diverse terrain. Some sections pass through open meadows and ridges, providing broad, unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape and distant mountains.
However, near the area of Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road where authorities found Sedano, the roads wind through thick, wooded areas, and the dense trees cover either side creating a sense of enclosure.
Newsweek reached out to the United States Forest Service regarding the trail, however, they have not responded.
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