Celinda Gonzales, a member of the Yurok Tribe who advocated for mental health care and suicide prevention in Northern California, died in an apparent murder-suicide, according to CalMatters. Gonzales was 59. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found two bodies Feb. 3 in a home in Weitchpec on the Yurok reservation. “Based on the preliminary investigation, the incident appears to be consistent with a murder-suicide,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release. On Feb. 12, a spokesperson said it is believed Gonzales was killed by her husband, Arthur Gonzales, who then took his own life.
The Yurok Tribe confirmed her identity in a memorial, stating, “She was a beloved friend to many Tribal Councilmembers, staff and community members. This is a tremendous tragedy for the Tribe.” Gonzales previously worked as a suicide intervention specialist in Humboldt County. The tribe is offering grief counseling at the village clinic.
- 1.CalMatters.
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