A mother reported missing in Northern California was discovered deceased near a hiking trail in the mountains on Sunday, just hours after authorities alleged that her partner threatened their 3-year-old daughter with a knife and confronted a police officer.
Lizbeth Arceo Sedano, 25, was found at approximately 9:40 a.m. close to the intersection of Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains, as indicated by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the scene, and investigators confirmed that the deceased was the 25-year-old mother, who had been reported missing from Watsonville the previous day.
Her family alerted the authorities after her partner, Joshua Gonzalez, contacted the Watsonville Police Department from outside their station shortly before 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, threatening violence against their small child, the department noted.
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Sedano’s body was located around 9:40 a.m. on Sunday near Eureka Canyon Road and Grizzly Flat Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office)
Upon arrival, an officer exited their patrol vehicle and instructed Gonzalez to drop the knife. Ignoring the command, Gonzalez charged toward the officer, according to the police report.
The circumstances surrounding the death of 25-year-old Lizbeth Arceo Sedano are under investigation as suspicious, according to the sheriff’s office. (Watsonville Police Department)
The officer subsequently discharged his weapon at Gonzalez, who sustained injuries and was transported to a trauma center outside the county, where he is reported to be in stable condition, police stated.
After threatening their 3-year-old daughter with a knife and charging at a police officer, Sedano’s partner Joshua Gonzalez was taken into custody just hours before her body was discovered. (Watsonville Police Department)
The three-year-old girl was unharmed and is currently with family members.
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The sheriff’s office announced that Sedano’s death “is being investigated as suspicious.”
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“The cause and manner of death will be established by our Forensic Pathologist, and detectives will continue to investigate this case,” the sheriff’s office added.
