Merced County Sheriff investigating death of woman, 27, found in Santa Nella canal

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after the body of a 27-year-old woman was found in a Santa Nella canal last week.

Deputies responded at 9:16 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after a person fishing in a canal in an area near In-N-Out Burger, found the body in the water among tall grass, according to Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy Daryl Allen.

According to J. Scott Petersen, water policy director for San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, the section of canal in that area is the known as the Volta Wasteway.

Allen said the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team responded to the call and recovered the woman’s body around midnight.

The woman was identified as Angelina Irene Alba Shepherd, from Santa Nella, according to Allen.

Allen said there appeared to be no evidence of trauma to Shepherd’s body, which showed obvious signs consistent with drowning.

Authorities said it is unclear why Shepherd was in the canal and the Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.

According to Allen, the case has been forwarded to the investigations division to determine the woman’s cause of death.

This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 1:44 PM.