HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. – A dedicated mental health advocate for the Yurok tribe, Celinda Gonzales, has been identified as a possible victim in an apparent murder-suicide in Northern California. She was 59.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reported finding two bodies in a home in the village of Weitchpec on February 3. They said the case appeared consistent with a murder-suicide.
CalMatters reports that the Yurok tribe has confirmed Gonzales’s identity in a memorial, highlighting her impact on the community.
“She was a beloved friend to many Tribal Councilmembers, staff and community members,” the tribe said. “This is a tremendous tragedy for the Tribe.”
Gonzales was known for her work in suicide intervention and mental health advocacy in Humboldt County. She previously held a grant-funded position as a suicide intervention specialist, collaborating with local police and fire departments to identify signs of self-harm.
After the federal funding ended in 2019, Gonzales continued her efforts independently. Her motivation was deeply personal, having lost her son and brother to suicide.
Gonzales’s advocacy gained further urgency as the pandemic increased mental health challenges in the region.
Despite these hurdles, she maintained faith in her community’s resilience, saying, “They’ve survived wars, floods, fires and landslides,” Gonzales said in 2020.
In response to the tragedy, the Yurok tribe is providing grief counseling at the village clinic.