Two people found dead in Yosemite West murder-suicide, officials say

Two people were found dead Thursday in Yosemite West, a small community accessed through Yosemite National Park, in what officials are describing as a murder-suicide.

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the case with the California Department of Justice crime lab in Fresno, said Friday that officials responded to reports of a possible deceased person around 4 p.m. Thursday.

Deputies found a deceased man and woman who officials said they believe were visiting the county. The sheriff’s office said that investigators think the woman shot the man multiple times before killing herself and that it has no additional people of interest.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending next of kin notifications.

Kristie Mitchell, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said Yosemite West consists of vacation homes for tourists and second homes for residents. The county reported no homicides in 2020.

“This isn’t very common in the entire area,” she said.

Jonathan Farrington, executive director of the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, called the incident tragic.

“This type of occurrence simply does not happen in Mariposa County or our region at any regularity,” he said. “The region is known for being safe, quiet and serene.”