In the early morning hours of April 19, 2026, the community of Covelo, California, was shaken by an act of violence that claimed the life of 38-year-old Audrey Card. The tragic event unfolded on a dirt road off Charlie Hurt Highway, where Card was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at 6:55 a.m. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was homicide resulting from the gunshot wounds.
The investigation into Card's death revealed a harrowing sequence of events that began earlier that morning. Authorities reported that a 15-year-old female relative of Card had been assaulted by a 16-year-old male suspect. The suspect had allegedly been following the teenage girl, shooting at her vehicle before forcing her to stop at gunpoint and physically assaulting her. The girl managed to escape and contacted her family members to report the incident. It was during a subsequent phone call with this young relative that Card was fatally shot; the teenager heard the gunshots over the phone.
Following the shooting, a citizen attempted to transport the injured Card to the Covelo Volunteer Fire Department for medical assistance. Finding the station unstaffed, they proceeded to a nearby residence to call for help. Sheriff's deputies and Round Valley Tribal Police officers arrived and administered CPR until paramedics arrived, but her injuries proved fatal.
The investigation quickly led law enforcement to identify a 16-year-old boy from Covelo as the primary suspect. He was located and arrested two days later in Oroville after a brief foot chase. The teenage suspect was then extradited to Mendocino County, where he was booked into juvenile hall. He is facing multiple serious charges, including first-degree murder, personal use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, stalking, criminal threats, and domestic battery in connection with the assault on the 15-year-old girl. Due to his status as a minor, his name has not been publicly released by the authorities.
