(KRON) — An official cause of death was revealed Thursday for Joanna Ruth Shields, a 37-year-old woman who died during a hike through Big Sur wilderness.

Shields’ death on April 9 at Sykes Hot Springs in Los Padres National Forest was marked by months of mystery. Her body was found in the remote and rugged area by a group of hikers. Witnesses described seeing “possible strangulation marks and an injury to Ms. Shields’ forehead,” investigators said.

Detectives initially classified the case as a “suspicious death.”

On Thursday afternoon, however, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office coroner said Shields’ official manner of death was determined to be “natural.” Her cause of death was “probable alcohol withdrawal seizures due to chronic alcohol use disorder,” MCSO wrote.

Marks seen on Shields’ body were likely caused by insects after she died, officials said.

“Investigators found no evidence during the forensic examination or throughout the investigation to indicate that Ms. Shields was the victim of a crime. Markings observed on Ms. Shields’ body were consistent with ‘postmortem insect activity’ and were not evidence of strangulation or any criminal act,” MCSO wrote.

Shields was a sponsored skateboarder who lived in Carlsbad, Calif. “There was something so free about her … like she belonged to the wind and the sunshine. Often gliding by on her skateboard, with a smile that brightened her gorgeous blue eyes, Joanna was a bright and adventurous spirit,” a verified GoFundMe page created by her loved ones states.

The page described the incident as a tragic “backpacking accident” that left her family and friends heartbroken.

The woman’s manner and cause of death were determined through forensic examinations, her medical and health history, and information obtained from Shields’ family, the sheriff’s office said.

“Additionally, the injury observed on her forehead was determined to be ‘superficial’ and was not identified as a contributing factor in her death,” MCSO wrote.

Sykes Hot Springs are accessed from Big Sur Station by hiking 20 miles along Pine Ridge Trail with 5,000 feet of elevation and river crossings, according to AllTrails.

A person, who was reportedly hiking with Shields before she died, fully cooperated during interviews with detectives, according to the sheriff. The woman’s alleged hiking partner was not arrested, and “no further investigative action will be taken,” sheriff’s officials wrote.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are changes the body goes through when a person suddenly stops drinking after long-term heavy alcohol use, according to a study by Harvard Health. “Seizures may occur six to 48 hours after the last drink, and it is common for several seizures to occur,” the study states.

Sheriff Tina Nieto wrote in a statement Thursday, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with Joanna’s family and loved ones. We hope these findings provide them with some measure of peace and closure after several difficult months. I also want to thank our detectives, Coroner’s staff, our forensic pathologist, and our public safety partners for their professionalism, compassion, and dedication to conducting a thorough investigation and providing Joanna’s family with the answers they deserved.”