An investigation into the death of a 68-year-old Seiad Valley woman has led to a murder charge against her 39-year-old roommate, who was detained in Sacramento weeks after the body was found in rural Siskiyou County. The case is now headed toward a preliminary hearing while investigators continue working through the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Frankie Marie Keller was found dead on June 8 near Hawkinsville View Road, and an autopsy determined she died from blunt-force trauma, according to FOX40 News. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office ruled the death a homicide and had been unable to locate Keller’s next of kin.
The discovery initially came with few answers. Jefferson Daily News reported in June that a passerby found the body on Klamath National Forest property near Hawkinsville, prompting deputies to seek help identifying the woman and determining what had happened.
Investigators later identified Elzie Jane Hernandez as the suspect and obtained a warrant for her arrest, FOX40 reported. Hernandez had been found driving through Butte County before Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies detained her in Sacramento on June 29, after which she was taken to the Siskiyou County Jail.
The available reports do not detail a motive or describe the alleged sequence of events leading to Keller’s death. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Agent Smith or Detective Gulick at 530-841-2900; the county also maintains an anonymous tip form for information within its jurisdiction.
Hernandez Is Due In Court Friday
Hernandez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday. She has been charged with murder, but that charge is an allegation, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
