Sheila Franks

A mom vanishes in the Emerald Triangle
Sheila Sherrell Franks was a mother, daughter, and sister whose family remembers her as a strong woman, a fighter, and a survivor. A 37-year-old White woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, Sheila was a divorced mother of two sons with whom she was in constant contact. Her sister recalled that as children, Sheila could be a pest, always wanting to tag along with her older sibling, a memory that highlighted the palpable love between them. Her family knew her as a survivor who had overcome much in her life.

In early 2014, Sheila was living in the Humboldt County, California area, splitting her time between Rio Dell and Loleta. On the morning of February 2, 2014, she sent a text message to her youngest son, a common practice for her. This was the last time her family heard from her. At the time, she was living with a man named James Jones. He reportedly told investigators that Sheila went for a walk that day and simply never came back. Her family, alarmed by the uncharacteristic silence, officially reported her missing to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on March 13, 2014.

The investigation into Sheila’s disappearance soon became linked with another missing person case. Just days earlier, on January 29, 2014, a 23-year-old woman named Danielle Bertolini had also vanished from the same area. Danielle was last seen on February 9, getting a ride from a man near Swains Flat on Highway 36. Investigators learned that the last person seen with both Sheila and Danielle was the same man, James Jones, who had a history of arrests for drugs and domestic violence. He was named a person of interest in both cases, though his name was not officially released by law enforcement. The similarities between the two women and the shared connection to Jones led authorities to believe the cases were connected.

The disappearances drew attention to a number of unsolved cases in the region. An advocate for missing persons grouped Sheila and Danielle’s cases with those of three other women who vanished from Humboldt County—Jennifer Wilmer, Karen Mitchell, and Christine Walters—dubbing them "The Humboldt Five" to raise public awareness. The families of Sheila and Danielle joined forces, creating social media pages and working to keep their loved ones' stories in the public eye.

In March 2015, a little more than a year after she disappeared, Danielle Bertolini's skull was discovered by a fisherman near the Eel River, upstream from Howe Creek. Her death was ruled a homicide. The search for Sheila continued for four more years. Then, on June 10, 2019, a human femur bone was found at Crab Park near the mouth of the Eel River in Loleta. Using DNA previously provided by Sheila’s family, the California Department of Justice laboratory confirmed in September 2019 that the bone belonged to Sheila Franks. Investigators searched the area but found no other remains.

Due to the limited remains, the cause and manner of Sheila's death could not be determined. However, authorities have stated that her death is considered suspicious and is being investigated as such. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office leads the investigation into Sheila’s case, working closely with the Fortuna Police Department, which is the lead agency on Danielle Bertolini’s homicide.

As of October 2019, both cases remain open and unsolved, with the same person of interest identified in both disappearances. No arrests have been made. Sheila’s sister, Melisa, shared a heartfelt letter on social media, thanking everyone who had shared Sheila’s story and kept her memory alive. The families of both women continue to seek justice and closure.

Anyone with information about the death of Sheila Franks is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department at (707) 445-7251. Information regarding Danielle Bertolini’s case can be directed to the Fortuna Police Department at (707) 725-7550.