On October 21, 2023, 28-year-old Autumn Brooke Wilkins was found deceased in her residence on Alexander Drive in Sage, California. Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to a call around 5:00 p.m. and discovered Wilkins inside her home with traumatic injuries.
The investigation quickly identified 44-year-old David Douglas of Lake Elsinore as a suspect. On October 23, 2023, at approximately 2:40 p.m., members of the Major Crimes Unit and uniformed patrol deputies located and detained Douglas at a business on Florida Avenue and Buena Vista Street in Hemet. He was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and subsequently booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Facility.
Reports indicate that during the incident, an adult male was also present and was shot at but not injured. The specific circumstances leading to Wilkins' death and the involvement of the second individual have not been fully disclosed. Authorities have not released further details regarding the motive or events preceding the homicide, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
In the wake of Wilkins' tragic death, a GoFundMe campaign was organized by her best friend, Ashley Hibbard, to assist with funeral expenses and the transportation of Wilkins' body from California to Georgia, where she is to be laid to rest. Hibbard described Wilkins as a vibrant individual who "lit up the room with her smile and her goofy soul," emphasizing the profound loss felt by her family and friends.
As the community mourns the loss of Autumn Wilkins, law enforcement continues to gather information to piece together the events that led to her untimely death. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department has urged anyone with information related to the case to come forward to aid in the investigation.
