Cougar Crest Trail
Big Bear Lake Sheriff’s
Search Discovers
Bodies of Two Missing
People
Big Bear Lake, CA___
February 4, 2020
San
Bernardino County Sheriff - Big Bear Deputies released
information of a suspicious death investigation of two adults, that had been
reported missing in the Big Bear Lake area, a community in the San Bernardino
Mountains.
Sheriff Deputies learned that Ria
Gabriella Williams, 27 years old, a resident of Santa Ana and Paul Arthur
Stockwell, Jr., 29 years old, a resident of Big Bear City, had last been seen in the Big Bear Lake area, on
Wednesday, January 29th. Williams did not report to work, Friday, January 31st
and a co-worker reported her missing. Also, Ria William's boyfriend, Paul Stockwell
had been reported missing by his father. Neither missing person reports
indicated any suspicious circumstances or reason to suspect foul play.
While on an early
morning search - Monday, February 3, 2020 at 2:18 A.M., the Sheriff
Deputies located a vehicle that belonged to the missing person, Ria Williams, in
the parking area near the Cougar Crest Trail and the community of Fawnskin.
San
Bernardino County Sheriff - Big Bear Deputies, requested from
Deputy Ryan Girard and K-9 Dare to search the Cougar Crest Trail and
surrounding area.
Monday afternoon at
about 1:30 P.M, a man and woman were found deceased, approximately one-half
mile into the San Bernardino Forest. Due to the circumstances, San
Bernardino County Sheriff Specialized Detectives- Homicide Detail were
requested to conduct the investigation. Homicide Detectives are
conducting a death investigation. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the
cause of death for each victim.
The investigation is
ongoing and anyone with information, or anyone who witnessed the incident, is
asked to contact Detective Nick Craig,
Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail at 909-387-3589
Callers can remain anonymous and contact WeTip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner
Department