‘This Investigation is Just Getting Started’: Sheriff’s Office Uncovers 117 Dog Carcasses, 21 Skulls and ‘Hundreds of Bones’ at Miranda’s Rescue | Lost Coast Outpost

On June 25, 2026, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division completed a second search warrant operation and follow-up investigation at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary, located at 1603 Sandy Prairie Road in Fortuna, California.

The search warrant authorized the Sheriff’s Office to search the grounds and buildings associated with Miranda’s Rescue and Shannon Miranda for evidence related to animal cruelty and fraud. This included the excavation of open fields for evidence of deceased dogs believed to be buried in mass graves.

The investigative team searched the open field on the east side of the property. The property was also surveyed using ground-penetrating radar. Several locations were identified, and specialized teams excavated sites where anomalies in the soil were discovered.

During the excavation, investigators recovered 117 intact canine remains from two dig sites. An additional 21 canine skulls, hundreds of bones, and six loose microchips were located in another dig location near where the intact animals were discovered.

The 117 intact dogs were in various stages of decomposition. Seventy of the dogs were X-rayed on site, and many of those animals showed evidence of bullet fragments. Most of the dogs recovered were microchipped. Analysts are currently reviewing the data obtained from the microchips and are working to identify the dogs associated with those chips. All items were collected as evidence and will undergo further examination as part of the ongoing investigation

Seventy of the dogs were examined on site by USDA and forensic veterinarians. Based on those examinations, investigators preliminarily determined the cause of death for many of those animals to be gunshot wounds. Due to time constraints, the remaining 47 dogs were not examined on scene. All 117 dogs were collected as evidence.

While digging in the northern area of the same field, investigators located additional deceased canines in advanced stages of decomposition. Investigators attempted to remove animals from that location; however, due to the advanced stage of decomposition, investigators on scene, in consultation with the prosecution team, determined that the evidentiary value of removing the animals from the ground was not justified. Investigators documented the location and observations, and the site was covered, leaving the animals in their final resting place.

Sheriff’s investigators also located an area inside a barn believed to be where the dogs were likely killed. In that same area, investigators located more than 600 dog collars. 

Sheriff Honsal stated, “This investigation is just getting started. There is a tremendous amount of data to process, witnesses to interview, and evidence to examine. The Major Crimes Division is laser focused on this case and will continue working with our state and federal partners to examine every lead. We are grateful for the investigative teams from the county, state, and federal government. We are also grateful to the private forensic veterinarians who performed the necropsies on site. The determination all of these professionals showed while working through this horrific scene is something we will not forget.”

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to inform the public that, due to the nature and complexity of this investigation, the evidence review process will require a significant amount of time. Upon completion of the investigation, and after a thorough review of all evidence, if there is sufficient evidence to support violations of animal cruelty, fraud, or other applicable laws, the case will be submitted to the prosecution team for review and consideration of criminal charges.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office understands the public’s desire for accountability and justice. However, it is our responsibility to conduct a complete, impartial, and legally sound investigation while ensuring that the constitutional and legal rights of everyone involved are protected throughout the process.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to the California Attorney General’s Office, California Department of Justice, United States Department of Agriculture, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, Cal Poly Humboldt Anthropology Department, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the private forensic veterinarians whose expertise and partnership were instrumental in the successful completion of this operation. We also thank the Yurok Tribal Police Department for its assistance with ground-penetrating radar operations during the investigation.

The Sheriff’s Office understands the significant public interest this case has generated. If you have a question, concern, or information about an animal that was under the care of Miranda’s Rescue, please email [email protected].

Due to the number of media requests related to this ongoing investigation, a press conference will be held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Humboldt County Jail Briefing Room, located at 901 5th Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Due to space limitations, only credentialed members of the press will be allowed access into the facility.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251.