Humboldt Homicides Fall to 20 Year Low, Officials Say

Humboldt County closed 2025 with one of its lowest homicide totals in 20 years, county law enforcement officials said as investigations into four separate deaths continued. Sheriff William Honsal described a long term downward trend in the local homicide rate, and noted that while three homicides were recorded this year, only a single case is being treated as a criminal homicide by the sheriff's office.

"We technically only have one criminal homicide this year, and that was the sheriff’s office homicide investigation near Blue Lake," Honsal said. "[The other] two cases are officer-involved shootings, which are classified as homicide, but not criminal homicide. … There’s another case that we’re assisting the Arcata Police Department on, but that has not been determined to be a criminal homicide as of yet. Really, only one bona fide homicide this year, and that is bucking the trend."

The county listed four active homicide investigations this year. On June 5, 29 year old Nicholas Anderson of Simi Valley was killed in a shooting near the Bear River Recreation Center in Loleta during an encounter with deputies. Honsal said Anderson was in apparent medical distress and "held [the knife] above his head in a threatening manner," prompting a deputy to shoot "in defense of his own life." The District Attorney is conducting an independent review of that incident.

On July 8, 37 year old Joshua McCollister of Fort Bragg was found fatally shot at his residence near Glendale. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office investigators later arrested two Arcata residents, Danielle Durand, 41, and Deunn Willis, 38, and booked them on charges of murder, conspiracy and robbery. That investigation remains active.

On July 26, 35 year old Jared Nelson of Eureka was killed in an encounter in Glendale while deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for illegal possession of a firearm. Authorities allege Nelson fled and fired at deputies before he was fatally shot. The District Attorney is reviewing that case as well.

On October 16 a woman was found dead in a homeless encampment in Arcata’s Valley West neighborhood. A 23 year old man was arrested and later released for lack of evidence. The Arcata Police Department continues its investigation.

Honsal also outlined several missing persons and unresolved cases that could change the county tally if new evidence emerges, including a body recovered from the Eel River earlier this year. He pointed to broader trends that may be shaping violence in Humboldt, noting a possible link between cannabis legalization and a diminished role for organized crime tied to illegal marijuana, while acknowledging that methamphetamine and fentanyl remain drivers of local violence.

For residents, the lower number of classified criminal homicides may affect perceptions of safety and influence how prosecutors prioritize cases. Officials emphasized the importance of community cooperation and tips to resolve cold cases and to advance ongoing investigations.