Crime

Sacramento sheriff’s detectives investigate homeless woman’s death in North Highlands

Sacramento County sheriff’s homicide detectives were investigating the suspicious death of a homeless woman found dead in her tent Monday March 20, 2023, at an encampment along Longview Drive, just east of Watt Avenue in North Highlands, California.
Sacramento County sheriff’s homicide detectives were investigating the suspicious death of a homeless woman found dead in her tent Monday March 20, 2023, at an encampment along Longview Drive, just east of Watt Avenue in North Highlands, California. Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

Sacramento County sheriff’s detectives on Monday were investigating the death of a homeless woman found at an encampment in North Highlands.

The woman was found dead inside her tent about noon at the encampment along Longview Drive, just east of Watt Avenue, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.

Kimberly A. Crocoll, 60, was the woman found dead Monday at the homeless camp near Longview and Watt, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. Her city of residence was not available.

Gandhi said Sacramento County coroner officials arrived and determined the woman’s death might be suspicious, so homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate. He said there’s some indication that her death was the result of a homicide, but it was being classified as a suspicious death until more information is gathered.

The sheriff’s spokesman said the woman’s family on March 1 reported her missing to the Sacramento Police Department, but investigators believe she had been living in the homeless encampment. He said he did not have any specific information that caused investigators to deem her death suspicious. He did not release any details about possible injuries or wounds.

“It still could be determined that it was a natural death or some other method,” Gandhi told reporters “But out of an abundance of caution, we do have our homicide (detectives) here.”

There are several tents in the encampment, and investigators were trying to question anyone living there who might have information relevant to the investigation. Deputies had sealed off the encampment with yellow tape and closed a portion of Longview Drive as investigators worked at the scene.

Four days after the woman was found dead, Gandhi said that her death had been ruled out as a homicide. Gandhi said the Coroner’s Office had not yet determine her cause of death.

Sacramento police investigate earlier death after fire

Another woman was found dead earlier Monday at a homeless encampment not far from the scene in North Highlands.

The Sacramento Police Department has called in its homicide detectives to conduct a death investigation with suspicious circumstances after a woman was found dead inside a burned trailer along Roseville Road near Longview Drive in Sacramento.

About 3 p.m. Monday, the Police Department announced that Roseville Road, between Connie and Longview drives, was closed to vehicle traffic in both directions as detectives investigated the suspicious death.

Police said arson investigators conducted a preliminary investigation at the scene of the trailer. Based on the circumstances, the police homicide detectives were called to conduct their own investigation.

Sacramento County sheriff’s homicide detectives were investigating the suspicious death of a homeless woman found dead in her tent Monday March 20, 2023, at an encampment along Longview Drive, just east of Watt Avenue in North Highlands, California.
Sacramento County sheriff’s homicide detectives were investigating the suspicious death of a homeless woman found dead in her tent Monday March 20, 2023, at an encampment along Longview Drive, just east of Watt Avenue in North Highlands, California. Rosalio Ahumada rahumada@sacbee.com

This story was originally published March 20, 2023 at 4:49 PM.

Rosalio Ahumada
The Sacramento Bee
Rosalio Ahumada writes breaking news stories related to crime and public safety for The Sacramento Bee. He speaks Spanish fluently and has worked as a news reporter in the Central Valley since 2004.
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